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
Cite this Entry
“Soy sauce.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/soy%20sauce. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
