wasabi

noun

wa·​sa·​bi wä-ˈsä-bē 

wə-ˈsä-;

ˈwä-sə-bē 

1

: a condiment that is prepared from the ground thick pungent greenish rhizome of an Asian herb (Eutrema japonicum synonym Wasabia japonica) of the mustard family and is similar in flavor and use to horseradish

also : the rhizome

2

: the herb that yields wasabi

Examples of wasabi in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Chef Victor Munoz is crafting a menu fusing local flavors with international preparations such as Dry Aged Rohan Duck with sweet potato, lavender, hibiscus and red rosebud jus and Tom Kha crudo with amberjack, wasabi and Miami fruit finger lime. —Laurie Werner, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024

Sendo’s napkins are paper, chopsticks disposable, wasabi frozen, and rent cheap. —Caroline Hatchett, Robb Report, 3 Sep. 2024

Inari, the simple Japanese dish of fried tofu skin and sushi rice, is flipped on its head: a sweet tofu wrapper stuffed with potent wasabi shrimp salad and transformed into something like a New England–style shrimp roll. —Elazar Sontag, Bon Appétit, 9 Sep. 2024

Music and laughter could be heard from the cidery, where guests were placing orders for wasabi Caesar salads and hard cider. —Aaron Hicklin, Travel + Leisure, 8 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Japanese

First Known Use

1891, in the meaning defined at sense 1