catsup

1 of 2

noun (1)

cat·​sup ˈke-chəp  ˈka-  ˈkat-səp 

less common spelling of ketchup

: a seasoned pureed condiment usually made from tomatoes

ketchup

2 of 2

noun (2)

ketch·​up ˈke-chəp  ˈka- 

variants or less commonly catchup

ˈke-chəp  ˈka- 

or catsup

ˈke-chəp  ˈka-  ˈkat-səp 

: a seasoned pureed condiment usually made from tomatoes

Examples of catsup in a Sentence

Noun (2)

She put ketchup on her hamburger.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Other Illinois stops offer the kind of oversized Americana that made Route 66 famous: the Gemini Giant in Wilmington, the Paul Bunyan hot dog statue in Atlanta, the world’s largest covered wagon in Lincoln and the world’s largest catsup bottle in Collinsville. — Emese MacZko, Forbes.com, 5 June 2026

The classic quarter-pound cheeseburger features 100% pure ground beef topped with catsup, mustard, onion, pickle, lettuce, tomato, mayonnaise and American cheese on a toasted bun — an old school build that hasn’t changed in decades. — Susan Stapleton, Des Moines Register, 16 Mar. 2026

Noun

In Levi’s press box alone, there were taped over logos of 23 different bottles of ketchup, mayonnaise and hot sauce, lest a journalist dare mention Heinz in their write-up. — Lilian Raji, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026

Think middle-class families gathered around picnic tables, pitchers of lemonade sweating in the heat, baskets brimming with soft buns, and squeeze bottles of ketchup and mustard. — Ashley Rose Young, Bon Appetit Magazine, 18 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (2)

borrowed, directly or via Malay kecap (phonetically kətʃap) "fish sauce," from Southern Min (Chinese dialects of southeast Fujian) kôe-chiap (Xiamen), kê-chiap (Zhangzhou), from kôe, kê "salted or pickled fish or shellfish" + chiap "juice, sap"

First Known Use

Noun (2)

circa 1690, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing catsup

• tomato ketchup

Rhymes for catsup

• ketchup

Kids Definition

catsup

variant of ketchup