soupçon
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of soupçon
First recorded in 1760–70; from French: literally, “a suspicion,” Middle French sospeçon, from Late Latin suspectiōn- (stem of suspectiō ), for Latin suspīciō suspicion
Explanation
If you ask the waiter for a soupcon of hot sauce on your omelet, he will give you a dash of Tabasco, provided he knows what soupcon means. It's hard for English speakers not to think of soup when they see this word, especially since it can mean a trace of something (such as a flavor), but the ancestor of soupçon is the same one that gives us suspicion and suspect, the Latin suspectionem: the common theme is that of an idea formed from scant evidence.
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.
The account has gotten widespread attention, in part for mixing its attacks with a soupçon of self-deprecation.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 26, 2026
In its 28 previous features, Pixar had dabbled in sci-fi, but “Elio” is immersed in it, with just a soupçon of … horror?
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 23, 2026
You think Manhattan is a soupçon more representative of middle America than San Francisco?
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 14, 2025
What if an autistic person tries to encourage understanding by dispassionately stating facts, and a neurotypical with tremendous certainty spews a series of incorrect takes — with perhaps a soupçon of condescension?
From Salon ● Oct. 9, 2022
“I’m mostly pecans. With just a soupçon of maple sugar.”
From "The Season of Styx Malone" by Kekla Magoon
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
