condiment
Americannoun
-
condiments
plural
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of condiment
1400–50; late Middle English < Middle French < Latin condīmentum spice, equivalent to condī ( re ) to season + -mentum -ment
Explanation
A condiment adds flavor to food. Ketchup and mustard are popular condiments. Most people use condiments when they eat. There are lots of salad dressings, and they're all condiments. If you put relish on a hot dog, that's a condiment too. Barbecue sauce and blue cheese are condiments as well. If it's an extra thing — especially a sauce like ranch dressing — and it makes food taste better, it's probably a condiment.
Vocabulary lists containing condiment
Words to Know Before You Defrost the Bird
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"My English" and "How I Learned English"
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This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for August 6–August 12, 2022
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Kraft Heinz, the condiment giant, is zeroing in not just on GLP-1 users but also others in their households, whom executives refer to as “GLP-1 adjacent.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026
I am an avowed condiment hound, especially when two sauces are doing different jobs.
From Salon ● Jul. 30, 2026
The company said Thursday that it is working on a “TSA Compliant Ranch” for those looking to travel with the quintessentially American condiment.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 19, 2026
But a shortage of the particular chilli pepper used to create the quintessential Caribbean condiment is threatening to stifle supply, while sending costs for the region's producers soaring.
From BBC ● May 31, 2026
“Hey, hey, Will,” calls Marcus from the condiment bar.
From "Dumplin'" by Julie Murphy
An investigation into the unsung hero of condiments: Relish is the ideal summer ingredient.
From Slate ● Aug. 14, 2026
So here’s a look at some of the star players, brands — and even condiments and comfort foods — that have already won this year’s World Cup.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 17, 2026
Buns and condiments are in the double digits, too.
From Barron's ● Jul. 1, 2026
Like many of my favorite summer condiments, its greatest strength is versatility.
From Salon ● Jun. 9, 2026
I yank my hand free and press the boxes of napkins, utensils, and condiments close to my chest and brush past him.
From "Dumplin'" by Julie Murphy
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
