Fischer esterification is the acid-catalysed, reversible condensation of a carboxylic acid with an alcohol to form an ester and water. It matters as a direct way of making esters from readily available acids and alcohols. Because every step is reversible, the equilibrium is driven towards the ester by using an excess of one reactant or by removing the water; running the reaction in reverse, with excess water, instead brings about hydrolysis of the ester.

费歇尔酯化是羧酸与醇在酸催化下可逆缩合、生成酯和水的反应。它之所以重要,是因为它是用易得的酸和醇直接制备酯的途径。由于其每一步都可逆,通过使用过量的某一反应物或除去水可把平衡推向酯一侧;若以过量的水反向进行该反应,则转为酯的水解。