# ketchup

/ˈkɛtʃəp/ (US) · /kˈɛtʃʌp/ (UK) · CEFR A1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/ketchup
Updated: 2026-05-06

## Definition

a thick, cold sauce made from tomatoes, sugar, and vinegar. You usually eat it with fries, burgers, or hot dogs.

For teachers: a thick, sweet and tangy condiment made from tomatoes, sugar, vinegar, and various seasonings. While historically referring to fish-based sauces, the modern sense refers almost exclusively to the tomato-based variety.

## Examples

- I like to dip my fries in ketchup.
- The waiter brought a bottle of ketchup to the table for our burgers and fries.
- The high sugar and vinegar content in commercial ketchup acts as a natural preservative, allowing the condiment to remain shelf-stable for extended periods after opening.

## Usage notes

- Uncountable when referring to the substance; countable when referring to a specific brand, variety, or individual serving packet.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.