corkage

noun

cork·​age ˈkȯr-kij How to pronounce corkage (audio)
: a charge (as by a restaurant) for opening a bottle of wine bought elsewhere

Examples of corkage in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
There’s a wine club that comes with tasting notes, pairing suggestions from the kitchen and no in-house corkage fees. — Kate Bradshaw, Mercury News, 25 Aug. 2026 One more change of note is a decrease in the wine corkage fee, which dropped from $29 down to $20. — Eve Chen, USA Today, 3 June 2026 Diners can bring their own bottle of wine for a $5 corkage fee. — Regina Elling, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Feb. 2026 Wines are served in Riedel stemware and Riedel decanters and those who wish to bring a bottle that’s not on Cory’s current wine list can pay the small corkage charge of $20. — Mike Desimone, Robb Report, 2 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for corkage

Word History

First Known Use

1838, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of corkage was in 1838

Browse Nearby Words

Cork
corkage
cork-bark elm
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Corkage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/corkage. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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