soy sauce

noun

variants or less commonly soy or chiefly British soya sauce

: a brown, salty liquid that is made by subjecting soybeans and roasted grain (such as wheat) to long fermentation in brine and is used especially in Asian cooking and as a condiment

At its most basic, soy sauce is a fermented liquid made from soybeans and wheat. Soybeans contribute a strong, pungent taste, while wheat lends sweetness.

—Lisa McManuse

My most recent kick has been Chinese. For more than a year now I've been stir-frying everything in ginger and garlic and adding soy sauce.

—Andrew A. Rooney

see shoyu

Examples of soy sauce in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Marinated in light soy sauce and olive oil, the prawns are grilled and finished with a rich butter sauce. —Sunset Magazine, 26 Sep. 2024

Why Local Fermentation Matters While Sato is known for soy sauce and tamari, his fermentation philosophy is rooted in using local ingredients to the maker. —Stephanie Gravalese, Forbes, 21 Sep. 2024

Combined with honey, brown sugar, soy sauce, and orange slices, bourbon forms a sticky, sweet glaze that beautifully lacquers the fish. —Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 7 Sep. 2024

Diners are encouraged to dunk the skewer into the sweet soy sauce swirled with Kashmiri and Tianjin chile oil. —Li Goldstein, Bon Appétit, 4 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1775, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

soy sauce

noun

: a brown sauce made from soybeans and used especially in Chinese and Japanese cooking