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

These savory and chewy bites are usually topped with fresh scallions and are served with a tangy soy sauce. —Christina Liao, Vogue, 27 Dec. 2024

The most prevalent ingredients were soy sauce, tamarind, anchovies, garlic, brandy, lime juice, onions, vinegar and molasses. —Tammy Algood, Nashville Tennessean, 25 Dec. 2024

Carefully stir in the reserved stock, soy sauce, and chili crisp oil to lower the temperature. —Peter Burke, Fox News, 19 Dec. 2024

Chef Steve Stallard is the man behind a line of bourbon barrel-aged sauces, vinegars, maple syrup and soy sauce. —Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 15 Dec. 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