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

A little cola will make your sauce Southern from the outset, and ketchup will keep it simple. —Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 4 Apr. 2026

The Big Buford is made with two beef hamburger patties, two slices of American cheese, iceberg lettuce, tomato, red onion, dill pickles, ketchup, mustard, and mayo, all on a toasted bun. —Greta Cross, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026

Hefty extra wattage is apparently needed to keep the Mar-a-Lago lights on in the event of an unforeseen disaster such as a war, or flying sports court glass, or a late ketchup delivery. —Pat Beall, Sun Sentinel, 27 Mar. 2026

Round out the condiment shelf with the classic trifecta of ketchup, mustard, and mayo. —Alaina Chou, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 Mar. 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