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

Jones wasn't all that surprised to find Harper indulging in a plate of ketchup. —William Lambers, Newsweek, 9 Mar. 2025

In the last slide was a video of her character Zöe, a bartender, dancing with a ketchup bottle with Moynahan and Bello cheering her on. —Rachel Flynn, People.com, 27 Feb. 2025

Yes, the boys went all out with a water slide, a hot-dog cart, a dunk tank, and our favorite bromances in matching couples’ costumes (Carl and Kyle as a hot dog and bun and Jesse and West as ketchup and mustard). —Brian Moylan, Vulture, 26 Feb. 2025

Testing Trend: Many of our favorite condiments come in squeeze bottles, taking a cue from restaurant kitchens and home staples like ketchup and mustard. —Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Feb. 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