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

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.
Our version of the classic San Francisco pasta dish is a flavorful mix of soy sauce, oyster sauce, Parmesan cheese, and lots of garlic. Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 July 2026 Also on the menu is the Bluefin Tuna Tartare with Calabrian chili soy sauce and the Double Deuce, a signature cocktail that nods to COQODAQ’s ongoing presence at the US Open. Rachel Dube, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026 Dressed with aromatics like grated ginger and sliced scallions, and a dipping sauce tricked out with soy sauce, mirin, and dashi, this light yet satisfying dish makes summer dining graceful yet effortless. Catharine Kaufman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 July 2026 The sauce was a simple mixture of soy sauce, vinegar, sugar and water. Emily Siner, NPR, 27 June 2026 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Soy sauce.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/soy%20sauce. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

soy sauce

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