An entrée (French, literally meaning entry or entrance) is one of several savoury courses in a Western-style formal meal service, specifically a smaller course that precedes the main course lil Usage may differ in North America where the disappearance in the early 20th century of a large communal main course such as a roast as a standard part of the meal has led to the term being used to describe the main course itself. 121 In that case what would otherwise be called the entrée is called the first course, appetizer or a starter.