ketchup

noun

ketch·​up ˈke-chəp  ˈka- 

variants or less commonly catchup

ˈke-chəp  ˈka- 

or catsup

ˈke-chəp  ˈka-  ˈkat-səp 

: a seasoned pureed condiment usually made from tomatoes

Examples of ketchup in a Sentence

She put ketchup on her hamburger.

Recent Examples on the Web

The usual suspects of ketchup, barbecue sauce and Frank’s Red Hot are all present. —Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 9 Dec. 2024

Make sauce and simmer meatballs: Bring ketchup, vinegar, brown sugar, molasses, mustard, hot sauce, and remaining 4 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce and 1/4 teaspoon pepper to a simmer in a large high-sided skillet over medium, stirring often to dissolve sugar, about 2 minutes. —Nicole Hopper, Southern Living, 7 Dec. 2024

It's glazed with a mixture of ketchup and sugar and vinegar, and also some hot sauce. —Bon Appétit, 20 Nov. 2024

Many people in the comments section of Govan's post empathized with her discomfort about ketchup. —Christine Rousselle, Fox News, 9 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed, directly or via Malay kecap (phonetically kətʃap) "fish sauce," from Southern Min (Chinese dialects of southeast Fujian) kôe-chiap (Xiamen), kê-chiap (Zhangzhou), from kôe, kê "salted or pickled fish or shellfish" + chiap "juice, sap"

First Known Use

circa 1690, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing ketchup

• tomato ketchup

Kids Definition

ketchup

noun

ketch·​up

variants also catchup

ˈkech-əp,

ˈkach-

or catsup

ˈkech-əp 

ˈkach-;

ˈkat-səp

: a thick seasoned sauce usually made from tomatoes