applesauce

noun

ap·​ple·​sauce ˈa-pəl-ˌsȯs How to pronounce applesauce (audio)
1
: a relish or dessert made of apples stewed to a pulp and sweetened
2
slang : bunkum, nonsense

Did you know?

English offers a smorgasbord of words for nonsense, some of which are better known as words for food. We have baloney, spinach, rhubarb, and toffee, not to mention full of beans. And if none of those offerings are to your taste, you can say that's pure banana oil! Seemingly innocuous applesauce was first introduced to this menu back in the early 20th century. Back then, there may have been some bias against the real stuff. Poet Wallace Stevens’s turn-of-the-century description of a meal consisting of "some unnameable smathering of greasy fritters . . . and of course the inevictable applesauce" shows a lack of respect that must have been shared by others.

Examples of applesauce in a Sentence

all that talk about taking up the farming life was just a lot of spoiled applesauce
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Bananas Bananas are easy on the stomach and are part of the BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast). Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 30 Oct. 2024 Bananas, applesauce, and rice cakes fit easily into a personal item and are UC-friendly. Karla Walsh, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2024 So why do parents ignore them? June 26, 2024 Earlier this year, the FDA recalled 3 million cinnamon applesauce pouches that contained extremely high levels of lead, after dozens of children across the United States were found to be suffering from lead poisoning. Jenny Gold, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2024 Foods like broth, gelatin, applesauce, and even popsicles are often suggested for a few days until symptoms subside. Jake Parks, Discover Magazine, 17 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for applesauce 

Word History

First Known Use

1672, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of applesauce was in 1672

Podcast

Dictionary Entries Near applesauce

Cite this Entry

“Applesauce.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/applesauce. Accessed 2 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

applesauce

noun
ap·​ple·​sauce -ˌsȯs How to pronounce applesauce (audio)
: a sauce or dessert made of sweetened stewed apples
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!