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

see also:

cut the mustard

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

The evening menu changes daily, and during my stay included everything from beetroot tartare with mustard ice cream to tender ox cheek, flaky sea bream, and an abundance of seasonal white asparagus. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026

Honey Mustard Popcorn With Avocado Oil Love honey mustard on my turkey sandwiches and apparently loathe it on my popcorn. — Alex Beggs, Bon Appetit Magazine, 21 Oct. 2026

Our editors recommend introducing it to earthier counterparts like moss, mustard, and chocolate brown, so as to infuse even more visual richness into your ensembles du jour. — Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 21 Oct. 2026

Finally, Khaite’s mustard yellow calf-hair clutch offers up an unexpected yet complementary splash of color. — Laura Jackson, Vogue, 20 Oct. 2026

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 greens
• 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