condiment
Condiment (noun) means a sauce, relish or seasoning added to food at the table to improve its flavour. Example: “Mustard is the one condiment he refuses to eat.”
How to Use Condiment
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething like ketchup or mustard that you add to food to make it taste better.
Neutral; slightly more formal than "sauce".
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
Mustard is the one _____ he refuses to eat.
Etymology
From Latin condimentum "spice, seasoning", from condire "to season, to preserve".
Synonyms
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Rhymes for condiment
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a condiment and a seasoning?
A seasoning, such as salt or dried herbs, is usually added during cooking and becomes part of the dish. A condiment is added afterwards, at the table, and stays separate — ketchup, chutney, soy sauce. Salt and pepper straddle both categories.
Is ketchup a condiment?
Yes. Ketchup is one of the clearest examples: it is served alongside finished food and each diner adds as much as they want. Mayonnaise, mustard, hot sauce, pickles and relish belong to the same group.
Is butter a condiment?
It can be treated as one when it is put on the table for spreading, but butter is more often classed as a fat or a spread because it is also a cooking ingredient. Menus and food retailers vary in how they file it.