condiment

noun

con·​di·​ment ˈkän-də-mənt 

plural condiments

: something (such as a seasoning, sauce, garnish, or topping) that is added to food usually after the food is prepared and that enhances or adds to its flavor

Mustard is a top-selling condiment, and although ketchup and mayonnaise consistently outrank it in popularity worldwide, more than 700 million pounds of mustard are sold every year …

—Melissa St. Aude

Then he presents … a bowl of creamy potatoes and a tray of six condiments, including pesto, horseradish, sea salt, red pepper sauce, raisin sauce and garlicky mayonnaise.

—Jerry Shriver

condimental

ˌkän-də-ˈmen-tᵊl 

adjective

Synonyms

• seasoning

Examples of condiment in a Sentence

the cafeteria's self-serve table has a full array of condiments

Recent Examples on the Web

Farid and Amir both recall working from dusk until dawn in Ikhwan factories producing noodles, chili sauce, and other condiments 365 days a year. —Teele Rebane, CNN, 1 Feb. 2025

Oregon is famous for these nuts, and Strong used them to make his take on dukkah, an Egyptian condiment blending nuts, seeds, and spices for a flavorful crunch. —Diana Spechler, Robb Report, 25 Jan. 2025

The condiment grew so popular at that Steve and Gayle began charging 75 cents for envelopes full of a powdered mix that would become popular across the country. —Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 5 Jan. 2025

More sweet feelings toward sour flavors Citrus and vinegar flavors will become more popular in dressings, sauces and condiments, predicts Arlin Wasserman, managing director at Changing Tastes, a food-strategy consultancy. —Russ Wiles, The Arizona Republic, 3 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin condimentum, from condire to season

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

condiment

noun

con·​di·​ment ˈkän-də-mənt 

: something used to give food a good taste

especially : a tangy seasoning

Medical Definition

condiment

noun

con·​di·​ment ˈkän-də-mənt 

: something used to enhance the flavor of food

especially : a pungent seasoning

condimental

ˌkän-də-ˈment-ᵊl 

adjective