condiment

noun

con·​di·​ment ˈkän-də-mənt 

plural condiments

: something (such as a seasoning, sauce, garnish, or topping) that is added to food usually after the food is prepared and that enhances or adds to its flavor

Mustard is a top-selling condiment, and although ketchup and mayonnaise consistently outrank it in popularity worldwide, more than 700 million pounds of mustard are sold every year …

—Melissa St. Aude

Then he presents … a bowl of creamy potatoes and a tray of six condiments, including pesto, horseradish, sea salt, red pepper sauce, raisin sauce and garlicky mayonnaise.

—Jerry Shriver

condimental

ˌkän-də-ˈmen-tᵊl 

adjective

Synonyms

• seasoning

Examples of condiment in a Sentence

the cafeteria's self-serve table has a full array of condiments

Recent Examples on the Web

The burrito comes with a new Caliente Sauce, a spicy condiment that combines red pepper, red jalapeno pepper and ghost chile pepper. —Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 24 Oct. 2024

Top-tier speciality ingredients: Essential spice mixes, condiments, sauces, and more—all Bon Appétit–approved. —The Bon Appétit Staff & Contributors, Bon Appétit, 10 Oct. 2024

When eating out, ask for your food to be made without extra salt and for sauces, condiments, gravies, and dressings to be served on the side. —Melissa Nieves, Verywell Health, 26 Sep. 2024

The secret to the juiciest turkey ever may be your favorite sandwich condiment. —Nicole Hopper, Southern Living, 3 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin condimentum, from condire to season

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

condiment

noun

con·​di·​ment ˈkän-də-mənt 

: something used to give food a good taste

especially : a tangy seasoning

Medical Definition

condiment

noun

con·​di·​ment ˈkän-də-mənt 

: something used to enhance the flavor of food

especially : a pungent seasoning

condimental

ˌkän-də-ˈment-ᵊl 

adjective