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 sauce incorporates ketchup or tomato paste into a vinegar base, along with sugar and spices. — Amethyst Ganaway, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 July 2026

Need to grab some last-minute hot dogs, burgers, or ketchup from the grocery store during your Fourth of July cookout? — Bailey Allen, The Providence Journal, 3 July 2026

In a large bowl combine the ground beef, egg, onion soup mix, bread crumbs, ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and shredded cheddar cheese. — Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 June 2026

People had their first taste of delicacies like soda water, Heinz ketchup, popcorn and bananas. — Rachel Treisman, NPR, 1 July 2026

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