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.

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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

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

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

Hokkaido uni has a deeper, more briny umami flavor than the Santa Barbara variety often served when the type isn’t specified.

From Salon • Mar. 7, 2026

“I needed some umami and some salt,” she added.

From Salon • Feb. 28, 2026

Mr. Landau tells her to think of umami as meaning “delicious.”

From "Liar & Spy" by Rebecca Stead