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

But drawing ketchup hearts on meatloaf isn’t doing it for Nancy anymore. —Brian Truitt, USA Today, 27 Mar. 2025

Despite Americans’ boundless love for putting ketchup on everything, Lay’s only markets and sells their tangy, tomatoey potato chips in Canada. —Arianne Jones, Saveur, 15 Jan. 2025

Shaw’s mother, Margot, says Andy and Joey bonded over their love of ketchup years ago and share it at lunch every day. —Alexis Christoforous, ABC News, 13 Jan. 2025

Jones wasn't all that surprised to find Harper indulging in a plate of ketchup. —William Lambers, Newsweek, 9 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