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

Other initiatives include the return of free refills (for in-store customers) and its condiments bar and requiring customers to make purchases to use the restrooms. —Moná Thomas, People.com, 24 Feb. 2025

Starbucks has also added back condiment stations with milk and sugar and free refills served in ceramic mugs for customers who order their coffee to stay. —Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN, 6 Feb. 2025

Blue: Four separate words, one expensive condiment. —Joel Thayer, Newsweek, 27 Jan. 2025

The return of the condiment bar means customers can once again pour their own milk and add their own sweeteners. —Amber Garrett, New York Daily News, 27 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