umami

American  

[oo-mah-mee] / uˈmɑ mi /

noun

1. a strong meaty taste imparted by glutamate and certain other amino acids: often considered to be one of the basic taste sensations along with sweet, sour, bitter, and salty.

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Etymology

Origin of umami

First recorded in 1960–65; from Japanese: literally, “savory quality, delicious taste,” equivalent to uma-, the inflectional stem of umai “(to be) delicious” + -mi, a suffix forming abstract nouns from adjectives

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

umami

For a simpler option, sprinkle in a pre-made umami spice blend.

From Salon ● Jul. 19, 2026

Katelijne Bekers, the CEO and co-founder of MicroHarvest, describes the cat snack Vegcat as having an umami taste without the bitterness of some plant-based proteins.

From BBC ● Jun. 4, 2026

The unique blend from Yame, Japan, has a nutty taste, umami finish and comes in a bright orange tin.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 1, 2026

Little bites of umami crackle and crunch that bring a welcome jolt of delight to some of my favorite dishes — congee, citrusy chicken Caesar wraps, anything that benefits from a salty, shattery finish.

From Salon ● Apr. 26, 2026

I end up telling them about how we’re studying taste in science, and about umami.

From "Liar & Spy" by Rebecca Stead