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 skimp on the sweet ketchup glaze! —Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Dec. 2025

Boy Burger is two quarter-pound patties, bacon, American cheese, Swiss cheese, chili, lettuce, tomato, pickles, ketchup and mustard. —Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 13 Dec. 2025

Again, like Nick’s favorite recipe, this one calls for ground beef (and even more than the Million Dollar Baked Beans above), ketchup, and onion. —Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 13 Dec. 2025

Another two were under a dry storage rack with ketchup. —David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 12 Dec. 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