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

The secret to the juiciest turkey ever may be your favorite sandwich condiment. —Nicole Hopper, Southern Living, 3 Nov. 2024

Some people also enjoy making their own condiments and salad dressings that contain less sodium than commercial ones. —Brittany Lubeck, Ms, Rdn, Verywell Health, 22 Oct. 2024

Another tip: Elevate the flavors further with one of Han’s favorite sandwich condiments, pickled onions. —John Metcalfe, The Mercury News, 22 Oct. 2024

Her favorite chapter of the book is devoted to condiments, but not traditional ones like ketchup and mustard. —Erin Clements, People.com, 16 Oct. 2024

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