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

In 1976, Toshi Kasahara opened a restaurant serving lightly marinated and grilled chicken, glazed in a blend of soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and sugar. — Allecia Vermillion, Bon Appetit Magazine, 2 Nov. 2026

Save sushi night from ruin with our tips for treating errant soy sauce stains. — Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Oct. 2026

Tofu, shiitakes, bok choy, and cubed kabocha squash cook in boxed vegetable broth that has been enhanced with soy sauce, miso, and fresh ginger. — Hannah Agran, Midwest Living, 27 Oct. 2026

Douroux recommends a little soy sauce, sesame oil, a splash of citrus, and then roast them in a hot oven until crispy and browned. — Bianca Lambert, Southern Living, 23 Oct. 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
• menelaus

Kids Definition

soy sauce

noun

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