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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Painting your nails and toes with one of these rich, lite-goth colors is the beauty equivalent of turning off the air conditioning and ordering a pumpkin spice latte. Kara Nesvig, Allure, 18 Sep. 2026 Organic Pumpkin Spice Creamer A blend of organic milk and cream gives this seasonal creamer a rich, smooth texture, while pumpkin spice flavors bring the taste of fall to your morning coffee. Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 17 Sep. 2026 Charlie Brown's beverage combines mocha with pumpkin spice flavors and pumpkin spice cold foam, while Snoopy's drink is a vanilla bean and white mocha base that's finished with pumpkin spice cold foam and crunchy cookie crumbles. Yi-Jin Yu, ABC News, 15 Sep. 2026 The Snoopy Cookie Frappuccino features vanilla bean flavor, white mocha sauce, pumpkin spice cold foam and cookie crumbles. Erin Clements, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pumpkin spice

Word History

First Known Use

1930, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pumpkin spice was in 1930

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Cite this Entry

“Pumpkin spice.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pumpkin%20spice. Accessed 20 Sep. 2026.

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