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
There’s a “Star Wars” cantina bit, a soupçon of James Bond in the score at a fancy gala and dashes of Steven Spielberg in the camerawork.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 23, 2025
I might add a soupçon of Seurat, to account for the smooth unruffled Classical forms of the dance hall’s clientele.
From New York Times ● May 11, 2023
“I’m mostly pecans. With just a soupçon of maple sugar.”
From "The Season of Styx Malone" by Kekla Magoon
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.
