catsup

1 of 2

noun (1)

cat·​sup ˈke-chəp How to pronounce catsup (audio) ˈka- How to pronounce catsup (audio) ˈkat-səp How to pronounce catsup (audio)

less common spelling of ketchup

: a seasoned pureed condiment usually made from tomatoes

ketchup

2 of 2

noun (2)

ketch·​up ˈke-chəp How to pronounce ketchup (audio) ˈka- How to pronounce ketchup (audio)
variants or less commonly catchup
ˈke-chəp How to pronounce ketchup (audio) ˈka- How to pronounce ketchup (audio)
or catsup
ˈke-chəp How to pronounce ketchup (audio) ˈka- How to pronounce ketchup (audio) ˈkat-səp How to pronounce ketchup (audio)
: a seasoned pureed condiment usually made from tomatoes

Examples of catsup in a Sentence

Noun (2) She put ketchup on her hamburger.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The classic quarter-pound cheeseburger features 100% pure ground beef topped with catsup, mustard, onion, pickle, lettuce, tomato, mayonnaise and American cheese on a toasted bun — an old school build that hasn’t changed in decades. — Susan Stapleton, Des Moines Register, 16 Mar. 2026 Each one is custom made to your order with your choice of catsup, onion, mustard, pickle, or relish. — Ashley Ferrer, Florida Times-Union, 4 Feb. 2026
Noun
Another customer said a box arrived containing little more than a lime, peanuts, ketchup and vinegar, with no meat, recipe cards or most of the ingredients needed to prepare meals. — Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026 Why Kraft Heinz uses Europe to test products Kraft Heinz is tapping Europe’s fragmented markets as a testing ground for new products like zero-sugar ketchup before taking them global. — Diane Brady, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for catsup

Word History

Etymology

Noun (2)

borrowed, directly or via Malay kecap (phonetically kətʃap) "fish sauce," from Southern Min (Chinese dialects of southeast Fujian) kôe-chiap (Xiamen), kê-chiap (Zhangzhou), from kôe, kê "salted or pickled fish or shellfish" + chiap "juice, sap"

First Known Use

Noun (2)

circa 1690, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of catsup was circa 1690

Phrases Containing catsup

Rhymes for catsup

See All Rhymes for catsup

Browse Nearby Words

catsuit
catsup
cat swamper
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Catsup.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/catsup. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

catsup

variant of ketchup

More from Merriam-Webster on catsup

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about catsup

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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