kimchi

noun

kim·​chi ˈkim-chē How to pronounce kimchi (audio)
variants or less commonly kimchee
: a spicy, pungent vegetable dish that consists of one or more pickled and fermented vegetables and especially napa cabbage and radishes with various seasonings (such as garlic, red chili pepper, ginger, scallions, and anchovy paste) and that is the national dish of South Korea
To Koreans, life without "kimchi"—that spicy, fermented pickled vegetable mixture, which accompanies every Korean meal—is unthinkable.K. Connie Kang
Korean buckwheat noodles have more of a kick, often delivered with a little spicy kimchi.David Tanis

Examples of kimchi in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Buddhist nun and chef Jeong Kwan buried pots of kimchi in the ground, to be opened only when the Biennale ends. Dada Jovanovic, ABC News, 28 Sep. 2025 Dollop on a bit of ssamjang and whatever other accoutrements float your boat, like a spoonful of rice to fill out your bite, some pa-muchim to add crunch and acid, or any banchan or kimchi. Irene Yoo september 26, Literary Hub, 26 Sep. 2025 While China and Japan both have versions of kimchi, those nations' dishes are more likely to be pickled, skipping the full fermentation process. New Atlas, 21 Sep. 2025 The gentle serum contains an impressive line-up of ingredients, including cutting-edge kimchi exosomes, peptides and a trio of restorative ceramides, that work to hydrate, lock in moisture and minimise signs of ageing. Angelina Villa-Clarke, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for kimchi

Word History

Etymology

Korean kimch'i

First Known Use

1888, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of kimchi was in 1888

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Cite this Entry

“Kimchi.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kimchi. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.

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