Definition

A type of sauce made from tomatoes, often used as a condiment for food.

Example

I like to put catsup on my fries.

Conversation

Do you prefer using catsup or mustard on your fries?

I usually go for catsup; it just tastes better to me.

Really? I always thought mustard was the better choice.

Well, it depends on your taste, but catsup definitely has its charm!

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Catsup originates from the Chinese word 'kê-tsiap', which refers to a pickled fish sauce. The term was adapted into Malay as 'kecap', meaning soy sauce, and eventually made its way into English as 'catsup', referring to a tomato-based condiment.

Memory Tip

Think of the Chinese 'kê-tsiap' for a pickled sauce, which helps you remember that 'catsup' is a type of sauce, specifically a tomato condiment.

Visually Confused Words