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

Vote for your favorite pumpkin spice latte in Middle Tennessee. —Andy Humbles, Nashville Tennessean, 6 Oct. 2025

This classy pullover V-neck is the perfect fall top to wear while grabbing pumpkin spice lattes with a friend or attending an outdoor fall festival. —Kenedee Fowler, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Oct. 2025

Both matcha and pumpkin spice lattes contain caffeine and can boost energy, but some people report that matcha gives a steadier stream of energy. —Sarah Bence, Verywell Health, 1 Oct. 2025

Now, bring on the pumpkin spice lattes! —Sarah Kinonen, Allure, 1 Oct. 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