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

Use calorie-dense condiments like mayonnaise, barbecue sauce, and ketchup sparingly, or choose lighter versions. —Johna Burdeos, Health, 20 Jan. 2025

Other sauce options include ketchup, mayo, creamy peppercorn and honey BBQ. —Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 9 Jan. 2025

Get the recipe > Pimento Cheese Burgers Skip the ketchup and mustard and slather your burger patties with pimento cheese instead. —Saveur Editors, Saveur, 5 Feb. 2025

The ketchup and the cider vinegar offer some acidity to balance the sweetness. —Craig Ruff, Southern Living, 20 Jan. 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

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