ingredient
Americannoun
-
something that enters as an element into a mixture.
Flour, eggs, and sugar are the main ingredients in the cake.
-
a constituent element of anything; component.
the ingredients of political success.
noun
Related Words
See element.
Etymology
Origin of ingredient
First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English from Latin ingredient- (stem of ingrediēns ), present participle of ingredī “to go or step into, commence,” equivalent to in- in- 2 + -gredient- “going”; gradient
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.
It’s a weekend endeavor—music on, spoon in hand—where time is the primary ingredient and depth the reward.
From Salon • Apr. 3, 2026
The cost of crude oil, a vital ingredient in gas and diesel, has surged as a result.
From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026
A key ingredient to the Algorithm, McNeill told me, is the sense of urgency that it injects into everyday work.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 28, 2026
From low-carb ice cream and keto protein bars to "sugar-free" soda, erythritol has become a staple ingredient in many modern foods.
From Science Daily • Mar. 28, 2026
And that, we shall see, is a key ingredient in the sense of style.
From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker
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.
