umami

1 of 2

noun

uma·​mi ü-ˈmä-mē 

: the taste sensation that is produced by several amino acids and nucleotides (such as glutamate and aspartate) and has a rich or meaty flavor characteristic of cheese, cooked meat, mushrooms, soy, and ripe tomatoes : savory entry 2 sense 2

Umami is often described as a meaty flavor and is particularly strong in aged or fermented products, like cheese and wine.

—Carla Ranicki

compare bitter entry 2 sense 1b, salty entry 2 sense 1b, sour entry 2 sense 1b, sweet entry 3 sense 2

umami

2 of 2

adjective

: being, inducing, or marked by one of the five basic taste sensations that is typically induced by several amino acids and nucleotides (such as glutamate and aspartate) and has a rich or meaty flavor characteristic of cheese, cooked meat, mushrooms, soy, and ripe tomatoes

A crab risotto made from local crabs is powerful with the big umami flavor of brown meat.

—Jay Rayner

: savory entry 1 sense e compare bitter entry 1 sense 1a, salty entry 1 sense 1b, sour entry 1 sense 1, sweet entry 1 sense 1

Did you know?

A Japanese scientist was the first to discover the savory taste of the amino acid glutamic acid, which was found to occur in soup stocks made with seaweed. This fifth basic taste—alongside sweet, sour, salty, and bitter—was named umami, meaning "savoriness" in Japanese. Umami can be experienced in foods such as mushrooms, anchovies, and mature cheeses, as well as in foods enhanced with monosodium glutamate, or MSG, a sodium salt derived from glutamic acid.

Examples of umami in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

These ingredients pack a deep wallop of umami, and using pickled peppers in lieu of chile flakes lends brightness as well as heat. —The New York Times News Service Syndicate, Denver Post, 21 Oct. 2025

Teaming fresh ginger and lime juice with a handful of pantry staples, this golden mignonette ups the umami while still letting the oyster shine. —Derick Wade, Saveur, 15 Oct. 2025

Adjective

There are even some savory notes that pop, like sweet and sour barbecue and a bit of umami soy sauce, but these are evened out by sweeter and spicier flavors like vanilla, black pepper, and honey. —Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 19 Oct. 2025

The orange juice, peach preserves, mace, thyme, and deep umami flavors from soy and Worcestershire sauce all work together to create a flavor that goes down to the bone. —Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 17 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Japanese, savoriness, flavor

First Known Use

Noun

1963, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1978, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for umami

• chamois
• clammy
• grammy
• mammy
• sami
• sammie
• sammy
• tammy

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Medical Definition

umami

noun

uma·​mi ü-ˈmä-mē 

: a taste sensation that is meaty or savory and is produced by several amino acids and nucleotides (as aspartate, inosinate, and glutamate)

umami adjective