wasabi

American  

[wah-sah-bee] / wɑˈsɑ bi /

noun

1. an Asian plant, Eutrema wasabi, of the mustard family.

2. the pungent, greenish root of this plant, which can be grated and used as a condiment.

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wasabi British  

/ wəˈsɑːbɪ /

noun

1. a Japanese cruciferous plant, Eutrema Wasabi , cultivated for its thick green pungent root

2. the root of this plant, esp in paste or powder form, used as a condiment in Japanese cookery

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Etymology

Origin of wasabi

(< New Latin ) < Japanese

Explanation

The spicy, edible root called wasabi can be ground into an even spicier green paste that's served with many Japanese foods — and is also called wasabi. Watch out for the wasabi sitting innocently on the plate beside your sushi! It may look like a blob of avocado, but it tastes pungent and deeply spicy. The flavor and spice of wasabi is often compared to horseradish or spicy mustard; you don't feel the heat on your tongue so much as in the back of your nose. Sometimes the Japanese plant is unavailable and horseradish root is used instead — sushi chefs call this "Western Wasabi."

Example Sentences

We started with wasabi shumai filled with pork and cabbage, and enough wasabi to bring a huge smile to my face.

From Salon • Jan. 13, 2026

At $45, the wasabi and caviar tots are considerably cheaper than the $100 caviar nuggets served at Camphor.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 15, 2025

"It just planted a seed in our head and we thought 'well if wasabi grows in water, then maybe it's something we can do'," he says.

From BBC • Sep. 17, 2024

Cheftestant Soo's, inspired by a Korean corn dog, was a french-fry-battered hot dog with wasabi and jalapeño mayo.

From Salon • May 8, 2024

Danny’s cheeks felt like the time he accidentally ate a blob of spicy wasabi thinking it was a piece of avocado.

From "The Way to Rio Luna" by Zoraida Cordova