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

Tuesday, April 7 Health inspectors gave a red placard to the Land Park Japanese restaurant after discovering eight cockroaches throughout the facility including under the cook’s line and on a glue trap under the miso soup station. —Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado april 10, Sacbee.com, 10 Apr. 2026

The miso butter mac and cheese is a flavor bomb, with sautéed mushrooms and corn ($15). —Michael James Rocha, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Apr. 2026

For family members with IBS or dairy sensitivity, miso and tempeh are gentler starting points than yogurt or kefir. —Allison Palmer, Kansas City Star, 10 Apr. 2026

Start with miso or tempeh instead of yogurt. —Allison Palmer, Charlotte Observer, 9 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Japanese

First Known Use

1615, in the meaning defined above