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

Instead of eating them as a condiment, those with gut issues may benefit from including onions in their diet more regularly. —Melissa Porrey Lpc, Verywell Health, 28 Feb. 2025

Other changes rolled out under Niccol include reimagining the vibe inside Starbucks’ locations — for example, bringing back condiment bars and offering free refills on some drinks for customers who stick around in the shop to enjoy their beverages. —Jordan Valinsky, CNN, 9 Feb. 2025

Starbucks saw a positive reception from its decision to bring back condiment bars in the U.S., reintroduce ceramic mugs for a more upscale in-store feel, and handwritten notes on cups to enhance the cafe experience. —Jeff Marks, CNBC, 29 Jan. 2025

Among other changes, the coffeehouse chain is no longer charging extra for nondairy milk, will reintroduce the coffee condiment bar and will provide ceramic mugs to customers who dine in-store. —Minyvonne Burke, NBC News, 29 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