ingredient
5 synonyms for ingredient, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — One of the items that make up a mixture, especially in cooking.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use ingredient
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
key ingredient
secret ingredient
list of ingredients
Etymology
From Latin ingrediens, "entering into," from ingredi, "to go into."
Full origin of ingredient →Frequently asked questions
What does “ingredient” mean?
The word “ingredient” means one of the items that make up a mixture, especially in cooking. In plain terms, a component part — literally in a recipe, or figuratively in a plan or relationship.
How do you pronounce “ingredient”?
“Ingredient” is pronounced ihn-GREE-dee-uhnt (/ɪnˈɡɹiːdi.ənt/ in IPA).
How do you use “ingredient” in a sentence?
Here is “ingredient” used in a sentence: “Flour, sugar, and eggs are the main ingredients in this cake.”
What part of speech is “ingredient”?
“Ingredient” is a noun.
Where does the word “ingredient” come from?
The word “ingredient” comes from Latin. From Latin ingrediens, "entering into," from ingredi, "to go into.".
Is “ingredient” a common word?
“Ingredient” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “ingredient” have?
“Ingredient” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: one of the items that make up a mixture, especially in cooking.
What is the difference between an ingredient and a component?
An ingredient specifically refers to one of the items making up a mixture, especially in cooking, while a component is a more general term for any part making up a larger whole, not limited to mixtures or food. Ingredient carries a strong culinary association that component does not.
How is 'ingredient' used figuratively?
Figuratively, an ingredient can mean a necessary part or factor that helps produce a result, as in 'hard work is a key ingredient of success,' extending the cooking sense to abstract outcomes.
What is the difference between an ingredient and a recipe?
An ingredient is one individual item used in a mixture, while a recipe is the full set of instructions describing which ingredients to combine and how to prepare them.
