: a spicy paste used in Korean cuisine that is made from red chili peppers, glutinous rice, and fermented soybeans
With Ms. Kim's encouragement, I made a version of her Korean bouillabaisse by sautéing kimchi with gochujang, soy sauce and fish sauce, then adding stock and a mix of shrimp, scallops and mussels. The gochujang added flavor and served as a thickener.Jane Black
Korean supermarkets, like H Mart in Manhattan, carry not only all manner of foods—like gochujang, three-layered pork belly, and Korean snacks—but also a range of practical (affordable) kitchen and home goods.Lauren Ro

Examples of gochujang in a Sentence

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.
In another, cucumber kimchi, a fresh and crunchy side dressed in gochujang with a fiery kick that cuts through the richness filling the rest of my tray. Rachel Bernhard, jsonline.com, 22 July 2025 The rice cakes are simmered in a rich, savory, sweet and spicy sauce, which is most commonly made with gochujang (Korean chili paste). Lucia Cheng, Des Moines Register, 5 May 2026 When carrots are done, remove from the oven and immediately pour gochujang mixture atop and use tongs to toss and so carrots are thoroughly coated. Irene Kim, Vogue, 21 Nov. 2025 The Spicy Tuna has an addictive spicy-sweet flavor from the gochujang that pairs so well with the addition cucumber, carrot, and daikon. Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 28 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for gochujang

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Korean kojujang, from koju "red pepper" + chang "paste made from soybean and other ingredients" (borrowed from a Middle Chinese antecedent of Beijing Chinese jiàng "soybean paste")

First Known Use

1966, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gochujang was in 1966

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Gochujang.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gochujang. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster