ketchup

noun

ketch·​up ˈke-chəp  ˈka- 

variants or less commonly catchup

ˈke-chəp  ˈka- 

or catsup

ˈke-chəp  ˈka-  ˈkat-səp 

: a seasoned pureed condiment usually made from tomatoes

Examples of ketchup in a Sentence

She put ketchup on her hamburger.

Recent Examples on the Web

Barbecue sauce: Make homemade gluten-free barbecue sauce using a combination of ketchup, which typically includes gluten-free ingredients, brown sugar, chili pepper, and apple cider vinegar. —Lauren O'Connor, Ms, Rdn, Health, 16 Apr. 2025

The chain is rolling out Tuesday the Big QP burger, which not only has a similar name to McDonald’s Quarter Pounder but also the same toppings: two slices of American cheese, pickles, ketchup and diced onions. —Jordan Valinsky, CNN Money, 15 Apr. 2025

Instant coffee sales rose 21%, ketchup 18%, and beer 3% from just a week ago. —Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 9 Apr. 2025

The Double Stack is another excellent option with two fresh beef patties topped with American cheese, ketchup, mustard, pickle, and onion. —Moná Thomas, People.com, 18 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed, directly or via Malay kecap (phonetically kətʃap) "fish sauce," from Southern Min (Chinese dialects of southeast Fujian) kôe-chiap (Xiamen), kê-chiap (Zhangzhou), from kôe, kê "salted or pickled fish or shellfish" + chiap "juice, sap"

First Known Use

circa 1690, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing ketchup

• tomato ketchup

Rhymes for ketchup

• catsup

Kids Definition

ketchup

noun

ketch·​up

variants also catchup

ˈkech-əp,

ˈkach-

or catsup

ˈkech-əp 

ˈkach-;

ˈkat-səp

: a thick seasoned sauce usually made from tomatoes