spice

American  

[spahys] / spaɪs /

noun

1. any of a class of pungent or aromatic substances of vegetable origin, as pepper, cinnamon, or cloves, used as seasoning, preservatives, etc.

2. such substances collectively or as material.

   Cookies without spice can be tasteless.

3. a spicy or aromatic odor or fragrance.

4. something that gives zest.

   a spice of humor in his solemnity.

5. a piquant, interesting element or quality; zest; piquancy.

   The anecdotes lent spice to her talk.

   Synonyms:

   charm, interest, zing

6. Archaic. a small quantity of something; trace; bit.

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verb (used with object)

spiced, spicing

1. to prepare or season with a spice or spices.

2. to give zest, piquancy, or interest to by something added.

Trademark.

1. Spice. a brand name for a synthetic cannabis compound.

spice British  

/ spaɪs /

noun

1. 1. any of a variety of aromatic vegetable substances, such as ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, used as flavourings

   2. these substances collectively

2. something that represents or introduces zest, charm, or gusto

3. rare a small amount

4. dialect confectionery

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verb

1. to prepare or flavour (food) with spices

2. to introduce charm or zest into

spice Idioms  

1. see variety is the spice of life.

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Other Word Forms

• overspice
  verb
• respice
  verb (used with object)
• spiceable
  adjective
• spiceless
  adjective
• spicelike
  adjective
• spicer
  noun
• unspiced
  adjective
• well-spiced
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of spice

1175–1225; (noun) Middle English, aphetic form of Old French espice ( French épice ) from Latin speciēs “appearance, sort, kind” ( see species), in Late Latin (plural): “goods, wares, spices, drugs”; (verb) Middle English spicen, in part derivative of the noun, in part from Old French espicer, derivative of espice

Explanation

You can spice up your meal with chili powder — or you can spice up your room with a disco ball! Spice is usually a flavoring for food, but you can add spice to other things by jazzing them up. Spices make your food more interesting and flavorful. Something that increases the excitement in other parts of life can also be called spice, like when the rivalry between two basketball players adds spice to the game. You can spice things up when you're telling a story by adding colorful details.

Example Sentences

Spice giant McCormick MKC 1.35%increase; green up pointing triangle is making a multibillion-dollar bet that seasoning food—rather than making it—is the winning recipe.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

In an interview with WSJ Magazine, the former Spice Girl shared insight into her relationship with her son, although she did not refer to him by name.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 16, 2026

Outfits worn by the Spice Girls, including Mel B's leopard-print catsuit, are on display as part of a "Cool Britannia" exhibition in London.

From BBC • Apr. 16, 2026

Spice and seasoning maker McCormick, web-hosting company GoDaddy, elevator company Otis Worldwide, water technology pure-play Veralto, and fintech provider Broadridge Financial Solutions also recorded their worst ever quarters.

From Barron's • Apr. 1, 2026

"Read all about it. Ten leas a pop for the Spice Isles Sentinel."

From "The Belles" by Dhonielle Clayton

Related Words

• salt
• seasoning