umami

American  

[oo-mah-mee] / uˈmɑ mi /

noun

1. a strong meaty taste imparted by glutamate and certain other amino acids: often considered to be one of the basic taste sensations along with sweet, sour, bitter, and salty.

---

Etymology

Origin of umami

First recorded in 1960–65; from Japanese: literally, “savory quality, delicious taste,” equivalent to uma-, the inflectional stem of umai “(to be) delicious” + -mi, a suffix forming abstract nouns from adjectives

Example Sentences

They've experimented with different microorganisms to minimise off-flavours and maximise desirable flavour compounds such as umami or sweetness.

From BBC • Jun. 4, 2026

The unique blend from Yame, Japan, has a nutty taste, umami finish and comes in a bright orange tin.

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026

Little bites of umami crackle and crunch that bring a welcome jolt of delight to some of my favorite dishes — congee, citrusy chicken Caesar wraps, anything that benefits from a salty, shattery finish.

From Salon • Apr. 26, 2026

In his rare blend, which ages for four years, umami lingers, not saltiness, and the barrels’ microorganisms lend to the complex taste.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026

Maybe not umami delicious, but pretty darn tasty.

From "Liar & Spy" by Rebecca Stead