ketchup

noun

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 ketchup in a Sentence

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.
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 Scrape into a blender; add ⅓ cup mayonnaise, ¼ cup ketchup, 1 tsp. — Nick Wong, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 Aug. 2026 Austin and Colin, a decade-old social media channel with over 25,000 subscribers, publishes weekly 60-second videos about cities like Waco or Omaha, businesses like Chick Fil-A or Trader Joes and brands like Nike or ketchup chips. — Angela George, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 24 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ketchup

Word History

Etymology

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

circa 1690, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ketchup was circa 1690

Phrases Containing ketchup

Rhymes for ketchup

See All Rhymes for ketchup

Browse Nearby Words

Ketchikan
ketchup
Keteleeria
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

ketchup

noun
ketch·​up
variants also catchup
ˈkech-əp, 
ˈkach-
 or catsup
ˈkech-əp How to pronounce ketchup (audio)
ˈkach-;
ˈkat-səp
: a thick seasoned sauce usually made from tomatoes

More from Merriam-Webster on ketchup

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ketchup

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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