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

Toss in soy sauce and rice vinegar for a classic anything-goes meal. — Lynn Andriani, Martha Stewart, 24 July 2026

The earwigs are attracted by the scent of the soy sauce and easily become trapped in the oil mixture. — The Spruce, 21 July 2026

Pour the soy sauce mixture into the pan and stir well to combine, scraping up any brown bits. — Erin Merhar, Southern Living, 19 July 2026

Our version of the classic San Francisco pasta dish is a flavorful mix of soy sauce, oyster sauce, Parmesan cheese, and lots of garlic. — Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 July 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