soupçon

American  

[soop-sawn, soop-sawn] / supˈsɔ̃, ˈsup sɔ̃ /

noun

1. a slight trace, as of a particular taste or flavor.

   Synonyms:

   vestige, hint, bit, dash

---

soupçon British  

/ supsɔ̃ /

noun

1. a slight amount; dash

---

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

See Examples For:

soupçon

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

The desert setting and chomping alien monsters give “The Last Dance” a whiff of “Starship Troopers,” a soupçon of “Tremors,” nodding to those self-consciously campy B-movie creature features of yore.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 24, 2024

Like many of the tuxes on view Sunday night, his was paired with a black shirt that gave the outfit a Gothic edge, with a soupçon of Rodeo Drive.

From New York Times ● Mar. 13, 2023

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

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---

Related Words

• crumb
• drop
• pinch

---