mustard

noun

mus·​tard ˈmə-stərd 

1

a

: a pungent yellow condiment consisting of the pulverized seeds of various mustard plants (such as Sinapis alba, Brassica juncea, and B. nigra) either dry or made into a paste or sauce (as by mixing with water or vinegar) and sometimes adulterated with other substances (such as turmeric) or mixed with spices

b

: the seed of a mustard plant used as a spice and in medicine as a stimulant and diuretic, an emetic, or a counterirritant

c

slang : zest

2

: any of several herbs (genera Brassica and Sinapis of the family Brassicaceae synonym Cruciferae, the mustard family) with lobed leaves, yellow flowers, and linear beaked pods

3

: a dark to moderate yellow

mustardy

ˈmə-stər-dē 

adjective

Illustration of mustard

• mustard 2

Examples of mustard in a Sentence

Would you like some mustard on your hot dog?

Recent Examples on the Web

Sausages splashed with mustard and chimichurri sauce are the savory makings of this classic Argentinean mouthful whose name is a mash-up of chorizo (sausage) and pan (bread). —Terry Ward, CNN Money, 15 Nov. 2025

The Food Meadow Lane’s founder Sammy Nussdorf has been teasing the food on TikTok for the last few months, building hype around everything from a colorful Chinese chicken salad to a perfect chicken nugget dipped into a golden pool of honey mustard. —Florence O'Connor, Vogue, 14 Nov. 2025

Kelly Clarkson Home Walker Area Rug This rug from Kelly Clarkson’s line blends gray, blue, mustard, and brown tones for a vintage look that complements a variety of home styles. —Jacqueline Tempera, PEOPLE, 12 Nov. 2025

Jonas returns to Indian cinema with a splash with Rajamouli’s film, portraying the enigmatic Mandakini’ in a first look that sees her in a mustard saree, pistol in hand, balanced on a cliff edge. —Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 12 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French mustarde, from must must, from Latin mustum

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing mustard

• (as) keen as mustard
• cut the mustard
• Dijon mustard
• mustard gas
• mustard plaster
• nitrogen mustard
• white mustard
• wild mustard

Rhymes for mustard

• blustered
• bustard
• clustered
• custard
• flustered
• mustered

Kids Definition

mustard

noun

mus·​tard ˈməs-tərd 

1

: any of several yellow-flowered herbs related to the turnips and cabbages

2

a

: a yellow sharp-tasting condiment consisting of the crushed seeds of various mustard plants either dry or made into a paste or sauce

b

: the seeds of a mustard plant

Medical Definition

mustard

noun

mus·​tard ˈməs-tərd 

1

: a pungent yellow condiment consisting of the pulverized seeds of the black mustard or sometimes the white mustard either dry or made into a paste and serving as a stimulant and diuretic or in large doses as an emetic and as a counterirritant when applied to the skin as a poultice

2

: any of several herbs (genus Brassica of the family Brassicaceae synonym Cruciferae, the mustard family) with lobed leaves, yellow flowers, and linear beaked pods see black mustard sense 1, white mustard

3

a

: mustard gas

b

: nitrogen mustard