English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology

noun Uncommon

ketchup

KEHCH-uhp

Quiz me More like this

Ketchup (noun) means a thick, tangy tomato-based sauce commonly used as a condiment. Example: “He squeezed ketchup all over his chips.”

noun

1

A thick, tangy tomato-based sauce commonly used as a condiment.

"He squeezed ketchup all over his chips."

"The diner keeps bottles of ketchup on every table."

verb

1

To put ketchup on something.

"She ketchuped her burger before taking a bite."

How to use ketchup

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe everyday tomato sauce found on tables everywhere; historically the word covered many kinds of sauce, not just tomato.

UK vs US

American English sometimes uses the older variant "catsup", though "ketchup" is now dominant in both the US and UK.

Easily confused with

catsup

Common pairings

tomato ketchup bottle of ketchup ketchup packet

Vocabulary Flow

Build your vocabulary from words like ketchup.

Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.

Start vocabulary practice

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Word forms

Third person singular: ketchups
Past tense: ketchupped

Test yourself on “ketchup” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

He squeezed _____ all over his chips.

Etymology

Likely from a Hokkien Chinese word for fish sauce, passed through Malay into English in the late 1600s; early English "ketchup" referred to various savory sauces long before tomato ketchup became standard in the 19th century.

Origin: Chinese · First attested 1600

Class of 1600 ketchup joined the language around 1600.

abigail accommodation Amish Baroque beau

See the full Class of 1600 →

Synonyms

catsup cetchup tomato ketchup

Frequently asked questions

What does “ketchup” mean?

The word “ketchup” means a thick, tangy tomato-based sauce commonly used as a condiment. In plain terms, the everyday tomato sauce found on tables everywhere; historically the word covered many kinds of sauce, not just tomato.

How do you pronounce “ketchup”?

“Ketchup” is pronounced KEHCH-uhp (/ˈkɛt͡ʃ.əp/ in IPA).

How do you use “ketchup” in a sentence?

Here is “ketchup” used in a sentence: “He squeezed ketchup all over his chips.”

What part of speech is “ketchup”?

Depending on how it is used, “ketchup” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “ketchup” come from?

The word “ketchup” dates back to around 1600 and comes from Chinese.

Is “ketchup” a common word?

“Ketchup” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “ketchup” have?

“Ketchup” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a thick, tangy tomato-based sauce commonly used as a condiment.

Featured in

Vocabulary lists that include ketchup:

Words with Chinese origins Words that start with K Words that end with P