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

Imagine pumpkin spice, crisp fresh air, fresh applies and breathtaking fall colors. —Cathy Kozlowicz, jsonline.com, 8 Sep. 2025

Hot and humid climates will soon be replaced by cool and crisp temps, Halloween paraphernalia will line department store shelves and the smell of pumpkin spice has already begun to perfume the air. —Roshae Hemmings, Miami Herald, 8 Sep. 2025

Now’s the perfect time to grab a pumpkin spice latte and think about an autumn wardrobe overhaul — and, luckily, there’s no need to spend too much on trendy new styles. —Jamie Allison Sanders, PEOPLE, 6 Sep. 2025

Craving the comfort of pumpkin spice now? —Melinda Salchert, Southern Living, 5 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