sauce

1 of 2

noun

ˈsȯs 

usually

ˈsas 

for sense 3

plural sauces

1

a

: a liquid or semisolid food mixture used especially as a topping or ingredient for adding to or enhancing the flavor of a dish

pasta with tomato sauce

hot sauce

soy sauce

a cheese/cream sauce

desserts topped with chocolate sauce

b

: stewed fruit eaten with other food or as a dessert

cranberry sauce

see also applesauce

2

: something that adds zest, interest, or excitement

New experiences are the sauce of life.

3

: rude or impolite language or actions

I've had enough of your sauce!

4

the sauce slang : liquor

Stay off the sauce, especially if you're taking the antibiotic metronidazole …

—Elizabeth Goodman

see also secret sauce, special sauce

sauce

2 of 2

verb

ˈsȯs 

usually

ˈsas 

for sense 3

sauced; saucing

transitive verb

1

a

: to cover or serve with a sauce

b

: to dress with relish or seasoning

2

a

archaic : to modify the harsh or unpleasant characteristics of

b

: to give zest or piquancy to

3

: to be rude or impudent to

Synonyms of sauce

Noun

• dressing

Examples of sauce in a Sentence

Noun

She tried several sauces before she found one she liked.

chicken in a cream sauce

Cover the strawberries with the chocolate sauce.

This pizza needs more sauce.

I've had enough of your sauce!

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

We roasted tomatoes, garlic and chiles for red salsa, mixed corn flour with pork fat for the tamale batter, and roasted ancho chiles before frying them in oil and boiling them in chicken stock for the 27-ingredient mole sauce. —The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Jan. 2026

They can be brined, rubbed, breaded, smoked, or deep-fried and then dipped or drizzled with a seemingly endless number of sauces. —Matt Moore, Southern Living, 13 Jan. 2026

Verb

The chicken wings maintained their crunch despite being generously sauced and carted over to our bungalow. —Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 11 Jan. 2026

Spoon the mustard sauce evenly over the fish fillets, making sure each of the fillets is completely covered. —Heather Riske, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin salsa, feminine of salsus salted, from past participle of sallere to salt, from sal salt — more at salt

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing sauce

• alfredo sauce
• barbecue sauce
• béarnaise sauce
• béchamel sauce
• bechamel sauce
• bordelaise sauce
• brown sauce
• chili sauce
• cocktail sauce
• duck sauce
• hard sauce
• hoisin sauce
• hot fudge sauce
• hot sauce
• Mornay sauce
• mother sauce
• Nantua sauce
• off the sauce
• on the sauce
• secret sauce
• soya sauce
• soy sauce
• special sauce
• tartare sauce
• tartar sauce
• weak sauce
• what's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander
• white sauce
• Worcestershire sauce

Rhymes for sauce

• blas
• bos
• boss
• bosse
• clos
• crosse
• dos
• doss
• dross
• floss
• foss
• fosse

Kids Definition

sauce

1 of 2 noun

ˈsȯs 

1

: a thick liquid that is eaten with or on food to add flavor

a tangy pasta sauce

ice cream with chocolate sauce

2

: boiled or canned fruit

cranberry sauce

3

: rude or impolite language or actions

sauce

2 of 2 verb

sauced; saucing

1

: to add sauce to : season

2

: to be rude or impudent to