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

Honey and soy sauce are an iconic duo, especially when paired with salmon. —Phoebe Evans, Southern Living, 15 Feb. 2026

Whisk soy sauce mixture to recombine, add to skillet, and cook until sauce has thickened. —Cathy Thomas, Oc Register, 10 Feb. 2026

One of the biggest is the idea that every piece of sushi needs soy sauce, ginger and wasabi. —Shindy Chen february 10, Charlotte Observer, 10 Feb. 2026

The sauce—made with miso, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and a dollop of mayo—doubles as both a marinade for the chicken and finishing drizzle. —The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 6 Feb. 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