soy sauce

noun

variants or less commonly soy or chiefly British soya sauce

: a brown, salty liquid that is made by subjecting soybeans and roasted grain (such as wheat) to long fermentation in brine and is used especially in Asian cooking and as a condiment

At its most basic, soy sauce is a fermented liquid made from soybeans and wheat. Soybeans contribute a strong, pungent taste, while wheat lends sweetness.

—Lisa McManuse

My most recent kick has been Chinese. For more than a year now I've been stir-frying everything in ginger and garlic and adding soy sauce.

—Andrew A. Rooney

see shoyu

Examples of soy sauce in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For a secret sauce, top sautéed Swiss chard with a sprinkle of soy sauce and balsamic vinegar, and a small pat of unsalted butter. —Claudia Alexander, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024

Reduce heat to low; stir in oyster sauce, soy sauce and tomato paste. —Sabrina Weiss, People.com, 11 Oct. 2024

Pair with wild game, meat ravioli or with cous-cous splashed with soy sauce. —Tom Mullen, Forbes, 29 Sep. 2024

Malty black vinegar, salty soy sauce, and peppery ginger all add plenty of oomph. —Bon Appétit, 28 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1775, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

soy sauce

noun

: a brown sauce made from soybeans and used especially in Chinese and Japanese cooking