What does condiment mean?
A condiment is a substance added to food, usually in small amounts, to enhance its flavour. Familiar examples include ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, soy sauce, vinegar, salt, pepper, chutney, and relish. Condiments are typically set on the table or served alongside a dish so that each person can adjust the seasoning of their food to taste, distinguishing them from sauces that are integral parts of a recipe. The word comes from the Latin condimentum, meaning that which is used to season or preserve food, and it entered English in the early fifteenth century. In modern usage, "condiment" is a neutral term common in restaurants, supermarkets, and food writing, where whole aisles and menus are organised around them; speakers more often name the specific item in casual conversation. The concept is ancient — the Romans prized pungent fermented fish sauces — and condiments remain central to how cuisines around the world express identity at the table.
nounA substance such as salt, mustard, ketchup, or spice used to add flavour to food, typically applied at the table or during preparation in small amounts.
- A substance — sauce, powder, pickle, or paste such as ketchup, mustard, salt, or chutney — added to food to enhance or complement its flavour, usually in small quantities.
"The hot dog stand offered a row of condiments, from yellow mustard to relish."
"She asked the waiter for extra condiments so everyone could season their fries to taste."
"The restaurant prides itself on making every condiment in house, from the aioli to the chilli oil."
Standard plural, used freely when referring to multiple items or an assortment.
"Every table came stocked with salt, pepper, and a basket of assorted condiments."
Ketchup, mustard, and soy sauce all belong to a category the ancient Romans already had a word for — and their favourite condiment, garum, was made from fermented fish guts.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of condiment
"Condiment" derives from the Latin condimentum, from condire, meaning to season, pickle, or preserve, itself rooted in the verb condere, to put together or preserve. The word passed into Middle English via Old French in the late medieval period and has referred to seasoning substances ever since. Its Latin relatives include condita (preserved fruits) and, more distantly through the same root, English words like confection.
How condiment is actually used
The word is slightly formal or neutral in register but widely understood; everyday speech often just names the specific item ("ketchup," "mustard") rather than using "condiment." It applies only to things eaten in small amounts alongside food — a curry sauce served as part of a dish would more naturally be called a sauce than a condiment.
Easily confused with condiment
A compliment is a flattering remark about someone, while a condiment is a substance added to food for flavour.