soy sauce

noun

variants or less commonly soy or chiefly British soya sauce

: a brown, salty liquid that is made by subjecting soybeans and roasted grain (such as wheat) to long fermentation in brine and is used especially in Asian cooking and as a condiment

At its most basic, soy sauce is a fermented liquid made from soybeans and wheat. Soybeans contribute a strong, pungent taste, while wheat lends sweetness.

—Lisa McManus

My most recent kick has been Chinese. For more than a year now I've been stir-frying everything in ginger and garlic and adding soy sauce.

—Andrew A. Rooney

see shoyu

Examples of soy sauce in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Directions For sauce, in a small bowl stir together vinegar, soy sauce, and brown sugar. —Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 May 2026

Sauté tofu with garlic, ginger, soy sauce (or tamari), and your favorite mixed vegetables, such as broccoli, bell pepper, and onion. —Caitlin Beale, Health, 1 May 2026

Strips of beef are cooked in a screaming hot wok with cherry tomatoes, onion and French fries, then seasoned with soy sauce and black pepper. —Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026

In a large bowl or resealable bag, mix together ¼ cup shiro (white) miso, ¼ cup creamy peanut butter, ¼ cup shoyu (soy sauce), ¼ cup packed light brown sugar, ¼ cup beer, any kind, 3 cloves garlic, minced or grated, and 2 tsp. —Sheldon Simeon, Bon Appetit Magazine, 30 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1775, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for soy sauce

• across
• backcross
• crisscross
• lacrosse
• recross
• tomas
• albatross
• applesauce
• barabbas
• helios
• kshatriyas
• blas

Kids Definition

soy sauce

noun

: a brown sauce made from soybeans and used especially in Chinese and Japanese cooking