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

Legacy favorites like baked crab hand rolls, miso cod, and rock shrimp remain, while new arrivals such as toro tartare, A5 wagyu tataki, and king crab motoyaki push the menu forward. —Keyla Vasconcellos, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025

Their new outpost brings Taiwanese and Japanese homestyle cooking to Boone, with dishes like miso soup with local greens or mapo tofu with local pork. —Carrie Honaker, Travel + Leisure, 15 Aug. 2025

It’s followed by a leisurely tasting of 10 pieces of expertly aged fish and capped with miso caramel ice cream topped with crunchy sweet potatoes that Harris likens to a childhood of dipping french fries in a Wendy’s Frosty, ensuring no sensory button goes unchecked. —Pervaiz Shallwani, Bon Appetit Magazine, 12 Aug. 2025

And while protein—and a savory breakfast—have been at the top of the discourse recently, there’s a new and unexpected breakfast front-runner: miso soup. —Margaux Anbouba, Vogue, 7 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Japanese

First Known Use

1615, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing miso

• miso paste
• miso soup