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

Two seasonal lattes are joining the fall menu too — a new Apple Crisp latte and the returning signature pumpkin spice. — Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 10 Aug. 2026

Any passerby will feel a sudden craving for a pumpkin spice latte and a cozy knit. — Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Aug. 2026

There’s something about the spice profile in a classic pumpkin spice latte—a concoction of espresso, steamed milk, and a mix of cinnamon, ginger, cloves, or nutmeg. — René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Aug. 2026

This book feels like a pumpkin spice latte spiked with cheap vodka (extremely complimentary). — Hannah Whitten, PEOPLE, 4 Aug. 2026

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