miso
1 Americannoun
noun
combining form
Etymology
Origin of miso1
First recorded in 1720–30; from Japanese, probably from dialectal Korean, equivalent to Korean meju “soybean malt”
Origin of miso-2
< Greek, combining form of mīseîn to hate, mîsos hatred
Explanation
Miso is a salty, fermented paste that's used in Japanese food. Miso soup and rice is a very common daily meal in Japan. The most common use for miso is in delicious, brothy soup, but it's also an ingredient in some kinds of ramen, pickles, and a sweet glaze for fish and vegetables. There are even Japanese desserts that call for miso. To make this versatile paste, soybeans are fermented with salt and other ingredients, sometimes including rice, seaweed, or fish. The root of miso is unknown, although it may derive from the Korean myècwú, a similar soybean-based sauce.
Vocabulary lists containing miso
World Cuisine - Introductory
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World Cuisine - Middle School and High School
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Foods from Asia
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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.
Coffee pecan torte, spiced pear sponge with miso caramel.
From BBC • Mar. 28, 2026
Acai bowls were recalled over possible plastic contamination, while sesame miso salad and hot honey mustard dressing were recalled over undeclared allergens.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 25, 2026
The miso mayo is great as a marinade for steak or chicken thighs.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 11, 2026
Many a pot of chicken noodle soup or beef stew has been quietly improved by a generous smear of white miso stirred in at the end.
From Salon • Feb. 8, 2026
She also went to my favorite little Japanese cafe and got me a bento box of Japanese fried chicken with rice, miso soup, and potato salad.
From "Finding Junie Kim" by Ellen Oh
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.
