cocktail sauce
noun
: a somewhat spicy sauce that consists typically of ketchup or tomato-based chili sauce mixed with horseradish and often lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, and hot-pepper sauce and that is served especially as a condiment for cold seafood (such as shrimp or oysters)
Examples of cocktail sauce in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
There's no cornmeal batter and spicy cocktail sauce for dipping, the standard Southern treatment for crab claws.
—
Jennifer Stewart Kornegay, Southern Living, 5 July 2025
Just strip the shell off, dip in the bowl of red cocktail sauce, and enjoy.
—Ashia Aubourg, SELF, 4 July 2025
Hopefully someone warned the senators to take it easy with the cocktail sauce.
—Brittany Carloni, IndyStar, 2 July 2025
Make things even easier on yourself by serving the seafood with a bottled cocktail sauce.
—Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 30 May 2025
Ting’s Filipino Bistro 10 critical violations in an April 29 routine inspection
405 Main St.
An inspector discovered a bottle of expired cocktail sauce sitting on top of the water heater at the River Market restaurant.
—Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 11 May 2025
Assemble dip: Spoon cocktail sauce evenly over cream cheese mixture.
—Giovanna Vazquez, Southern Living, 8 Dec. 2024
Assemble the dip in a bowl with the cream cheese mixture on bottom, then a layer of cocktail sauce, and finally more shrimp.
—Giovanna Vazquez, Southern Living, 8 Dec. 2024
Red Lobster: Those with a valid military ID or proof of service on Monday can dine in and get a free Veteran’s Shrimp & Chips meal – featuring six Walt's Favorite Shrimp, served with cocktail sauce and ketchup, plus french fries and coleslaw.
—Mike Snider, USA TODAY, 10 Nov. 2024
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Jennifer Stewart Kornegay, Southern Living, 5 July 2025
Just strip the shell off, dip in the bowl of red cocktail sauce, and enjoy.
—Ashia Aubourg, SELF, 4 July 2025
Hopefully someone warned the senators to take it easy with the cocktail sauce.
—Brittany Carloni, IndyStar, 2 July 2025
Make things even easier on yourself by serving the seafood with a bottled cocktail sauce.
—Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 30 May 2025
Ting’s Filipino Bistro 10 critical violations in an April 29 routine inspection
405 Main St.
An inspector discovered a bottle of expired cocktail sauce sitting on top of the water heater at the River Market restaurant.
—Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 11 May 2025
Assemble dip: Spoon cocktail sauce evenly over cream cheese mixture.
—Giovanna Vazquez, Southern Living, 8 Dec. 2024
Assemble the dip in a bowl with the cream cheese mixture on bottom, then a layer of cocktail sauce, and finally more shrimp.
—Giovanna Vazquez, Southern Living, 8 Dec. 2024
Red Lobster: Those with a valid military ID or proof of service on Monday can dine in and get a free Veteran’s Shrimp & Chips meal – featuring six Walt's Favorite Shrimp, served with cocktail sauce and ketchup, plus french fries and coleslaw.
—Mike Snider, USA TODAY, 10 Nov. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Cocktail sauce.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cocktail%20sauce. Accessed 16 Jul. 2025.
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