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

Get The Recipe Aside from the namesake bourbon, this recipe tosses the chicken in ketchup, brown sugar, honey, soy sauce, and apple cider vinegar for the perfect balance of sweet and savory flavors. —Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 7 Sep. 2024

The soy sauce used to dress the tofu is thicker and richer, its umami coming from both tamari and soy sauce, sugar and maguro flakes. —Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2024

When enjoyed without salty condiments, like soy sauce, edamame can be incorporated into low-sodium diets. —Jillian Kubala, Health, 6 Aug. 2024

Surprisingly, some foods perceived as ‘healthy’ can also be high in sodium, such as salted and roasted nuts and soy sauce, which can pack a gram of sodium into just a tablespoon. —Alessandra Signorelli, Vogue, 5 July 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