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

Wipe off the ketchup, then use a soft toothbrush if needed to gently scrub any recesses or crevices that need further cleaning. —Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 25 Nov. 2025

Sip chai or taste Currywurst, the post–World War II Berlin favorite of sausage topped with spicy curry ketchup. —Meena Thiruvengadam, Travel + Leisure, 25 Nov. 2025

The price tag for bingeing 29 hot dogs dolled up with ketchup, mustard and relish and washed down with a Pepsi or Mountain Dew? —Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 19 Nov. 2025

The variety was named Centennial because it was introduced to the public 30 years later at the Philadelphia Centennial Expedition in 1876, alongside the telephone, Heinz ketchup and the right arm of the Statue of Liberty. —Shelley Mitchell, The Conversation, 18 Nov. 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