miso

noun

mi·​so ˈmē-(ˌ)sō 

plural misos

: a fermented paste that is used especially in Japanese cuisine, that consists chiefly of soybeans, salt, and usually grain (such as barley or rice), and that has a savory taste ranging from very salty to somewhat sweet

… miso, the savory paste that flavors everything in Japanese cuisine from soups and pickles to dressings for salads.

—Harris Salat

Darker misos, such as brown and red, are fermented longer and have a stronger flavor. Lighter-colored misos have been fermented for less time, and have a milder, less salty flavor …

—Robin Asbell

Miso is teeming with protein, B vitamins and minerals, and rich in glutamates, which give food that meaty taste known as umami.

—Carole Kotkin

… miso paste is made by fermenting soybeans and sometimes grains (such as rice, barley, or rye) with a mold …

—Cook's Illustrated

We live on rice, fish, pickles, noodles, and miso soup, made from soybeans.

—James Fallows

Examples of miso in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Also new is the Bacon Onion Jam Smashburger, a Black Angus beef burger with Nashville hot rub, white American cheese, pickles, bacon chipotle onion jam, shredded lettuce, El Gallo BBQ sauce and miso ranch served on a King’s Hawaiian bun. —Richard Guzman, Daily News, 16 Mar. 2026

Some of the food options include chicken karaage, a katsu sandwich and a chicken nanban rice plate with miso soup. —Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 13 Mar. 2026

The warm confit cabbage salad, a quarter of a cabbage head so tender it could easily be cut with a fork, may as well have been made entirely out of miso butter. —Henri Hollis, AJC.com, 12 Mar. 2026

Paired with Korean rice cakes, almost a stick of butter, and a pantry powerhouse sauce (miso, rice wine vinegar, soy sauce, and toasted sesame oil), each bowl tastes like a ray of sunshine. —The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 6 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Japanese

First Known Use

1615, in the meaning defined above