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

Don't forget ketchup, mayo, and mustard packets, too. —Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 17 Sep. 2025

Most wind up sitting in a car’s glovebox beneath piles of registration forms, repair receipts, and take-out ketchup packets. —Jim Gorzelany, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025

It’s typically served with red slaw with a ketchup component. —Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 15 Sep. 2025

Her insistence that she’s being hit on and asides about ketchup for her steak climax with a note-perfect response to the news that the restaurant has received some complaints. —Jesse Hassenger, Vulture, 12 Sep. 2025

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