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

• flavoring
• seasoning
• sauce
• spice
• herb

Examples of condiment in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Victims of soggy bread, skimpy meat, and lackluster toppings or condiments can agree - a great sandwich is so much better than a mediocre one. —Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2025

In terms of condiments, the classic choice is ketchup! —Robin Miller, AZCentral.com, 25 July 2025

At the store, look for low-sugar or low-salt varieties of condiments and dressings. —Brittany Poulson, Verywell Health, 21 July 2025

Co-founded by Powell alongside Sameer Mehta and Sean Kane, Smash Kitchen is hitting shelves with an initial lineup of eight condiments, all boasting transparent ingredient lists and accessible prices. —Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 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