fish sauce

American

[fish saws] / ˈfɪʃ ˌsɔs /

noun

a spicy sauce made from the fermented liquid of salt-cured fish, especially anchovies, popular as a flavoring or condiment in East and Southeast Asian cuisine.

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.

Finish with lime juice, fish sauce or soy sauce, and a handful of herbs.

From Salon • Apr. 3, 2026

So fill your pantry with fish sauce caramel corn, vegan chorizo Chex mix, cult-favorite bar nuts and a top-notch burnt olive ranch dip—and your shot glasses with perfect pairings for each.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 17, 2025

Together they created a company, moved back to California, and started selling high-end fish sauce to U.S. outlets including Whole Foods and Bristol Farms.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2025

"While the Romans had to wait centuries for pasta, they chowed down on dormice in fish sauce," he said.

From BBC • May 4, 2024

Someone should be kissed for having the heart to send cases of fish sauce to Guam.

From "Inside Out and Back Again" by Thanhha Lai

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023