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 McManuse
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

Examples of soy sauce 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.
The team makes their versions of tofu, miso, soy sauce and other Japanese staples using chickpeas, various beans and other native crops. Ann Abel, Forbes.com, 22 July 2025 Add chili powder, black peppercorns, ketchup, soy sauce and 6 tablespoons water. Cook for 2 minutes, mix well, and once combined, turn off the heat. Gretchen McKay, Twin Cities, 18 July 2025 The roll was dressed with spicy mayo, light soy sauce and microgreens. Irene Milanez, Sacbee.com, 7 July 2025 Those include: a soy sauce ice cream that delivers a sweet and salty taste and is requested by visitors from Japan and another made from fresh ginger. Pamela McLoughlin, Hartford Courant, 18 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for soy sauce

Word History

First Known Use

1775, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of soy sauce was in 1775

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Cite this Entry

“Soy sauce.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/soy%20sauce. Accessed 2 Aug. 2025.

Kids Definition

soy sauce

noun
: a brown sauce made from soybeans and used especially in Chinese and Japanese cooking
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