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

Serve with sautéed mushroom and onion gravy or more ketchup. —The Know, Denver Post, 24 Jan. 2026

Bottles of Heinz ketchup and mustard for sale are seen at the Heinz company display at the Berkshire Hathaway shareholder’s shopping day in Omaha, Nebraska May 1, 2015. —Alex Crippen, CNBC, 24 Jan. 2026

The jalapeno bacon and spiked ketchup add a kick of spice. —Evan Grant, Dallas Morning News, 20 Jan. 2026

The original style of most sauces is spicy-sweet with molasses, ketchup, and hickory flavors being the predominant notes. —Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 17 Jan. 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