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

Steakhouse meatloaf works because it leans into the savory: deeply seasoned, unapologetically umami, held together with intention.

From Salon

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

From Salon

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

From Salon

Sure, onions add plenty of perks to a dish: texture, a hint of sweetness and plenty of umami.

From Salon

It’s sweet and rich in umami — everything you’d get out of an onion.

From Salon