condiment

noun

con·​di·​ment ˈkän-də-mənt 

plural condiments

: something (such as a seasoning, sauce, garnish, or topping) that is added to food usually after the food is prepared and that enhances or adds to its flavor

Mustard is a top-selling condiment, and although ketchup and mayonnaise consistently outrank it in popularity worldwide, more than 700 million pounds of mustard are sold every year …

—Melissa St. Aude

Then he presents … a bowl of creamy potatoes and a tray of six condiments, including pesto, horseradish, sea salt, red pepper sauce, raisin sauce and garlicky mayonnaise.

—Jerry Shriver

condimental

ˌkän-də-ˈmen-tᵊl 

adjective

Synonyms

• seasoning

Examples of condiment in a Sentence

the cafeteria's self-serve table has a full array of condiments

Recent Examples on the Web

Add another smear of your favorite condiments on the top bun and enjoy! —Joe Difazio, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2025

It is also found in drinks like Mountain Dew, chips like Doritos and condiments like Vlasic's sweet relish and Kraft's creamy French salad dressing. —Sarah Lynch Baldwin, CBS News, 23 Apr. 2025

Glen Powell's new condiment line is sure to be a smash in your kitchen! —Natalia Senanayake, People.com, 2 Apr. 2025

Their classic New York sandwich is grilled to perfection with a hearty helping of ground beef and onions, topped with melty cheese, lettuce, tomato and condiments on a hero roll shipped directly from the Big Apple daily. —Alayna Alvarez, Axios, 28 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin condimentum, from condire to season

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

condiment

noun

con·​di·​ment ˈkän-də-mənt 

: something used to give food a good taste

especially : a tangy seasoning

Medical Definition

condiment

noun

con·​di·​ment ˈkän-də-mənt 

: something used to enhance the flavor of food

especially : a pungent seasoning

condimental

ˌkän-də-ˈment-ᵊl 

adjective