ketchup

noun

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 ketchup in a Sentence

She put ketchup on her hamburger.

Recent Examples on the Web

The ketchup and fries are casualties in this conversation. —Andrea Wurzburger, PEOPLE, 22 Sep. 2025

Manong’s focus will center Ihawan-style cuisine—think skewers and longanisa sausage made in-house—plus comfort dishes like Filipino spaghetti with housemade banana ketchup and Carvel-style ube ice cream cake for dessert. —Kate Kassin, Bon Appetit Magazine, 22 Sep. 2025

Aside from the namesake bourbon, this recipe tosses the chicken in ketchup, brown sugar, honey, soy sauce, and apple cider vinegar. —Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 21 Sep. 2025

The chef’s secret sauce, literally, is a housemade Thousand Island dressing where ketchup, mustard and mayonnaise are amped up with gochujang, doenjang, tamari, confit garlic, hot sauce and more. —Aly Walansky, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

circa 1690, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing ketchup

• tomato ketchup

Rhymes for ketchup

• catsup

Kids Definition

ketchup

noun

ketch·​up

variants also catchup

ˈkech-əp,

ˈkach-

or catsup

ˈkech-əp 

ˈkach-;

ˈkat-səp

: a thick seasoned sauce usually made from tomatoes