pumpkin spice

noun

variants or less commonly pumpkin pie spice

: a mixture of usually cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, and often allspice that is commonly used in pumpkin pie

Pumpkin spice is everywhere, and at this point you simply give in to the pounds you'll potentially gain from all the glorious spreads during the holidays.

—Chris Scott

By mixing in a few simple ingredients with pumpkin—think vanilla yogurt, brown sugar, pumpkin pie spice and a sprinkling of graham cracker—you create a velvety pumpkin pie experience in a matter of seconds.

—Erika Chayes Wida

—often used before another noun

It's that time of year again—holiday decorations festoon the lampposts and store windows, the smell of pumpkin spice lattes pervades the air, and the chill of winter has settled in …

—Lee Hutchinson

With sweet potato pie, the same pumpkin pie spice blend … is used along with the pre-baked crust.

—WSOCTV.com

Examples of pumpkin spice in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Cookie ideas also come from seasonal months, such as the pumpkin spice chocolate chip cookie currently available and trending ideas on social media, as well as a Dubai chocolate cookie that was crafted earlier this year, Madsen said. —Carlos Rico, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Sep. 2025

Seasonal flavors like caramel, pumpkin spice, or apple cinnamon are always a hit. —Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Sep. 2025

The fall season is here, and while many are enjoying the colorful leaves, apple orchards and pumpkin spice lattes, colder weather will soon be approaching in the commonwealth. —Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 26 Sep. 2025

For those who can already hear the whispers of falling leaves and detect the faint aroma of pumpkin spice, keep scrolling to shop our favorite finds from the launch. —Shea Simmons, Southern Living, 25 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1930, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for pumpkin spice

• imprecise
• sacrifice
• advice
• allspice
• concise
• device
• entice
• excise
• fordyce
• precise
• suffice
• dice