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

There’s a variety of classic sushi rolls like Philadelphia rolls or specialties like the Jayhawk roll (cream cheese, avocado, shrimp tempura and spicy tuna) as well as sashimi (individual pieces of fish served with ginger, soy sauce and wasabi). —Kansas City Star, 29 Apr. 2026

From there, ingredients like soy sauce, sesame oil, and spices add depth and complexity. —Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 29 Apr. 2026

In the casserole dish, add the coconut milk, soy sauce, ginger, garlic, maple syrup, vegetable broth, paprika, and lime juice, and whisk until completely smooth. —Kelly McCarthy, ABC News, 28 Apr. 2026

Depending on the day, the menu may include fresh marble goby fish from the Mekong River, served with vermicelli and a light soy sauce, or lobster sour soup with lemongrass. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1775, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for soy sauce

• across
• backcross
• crisscross
• lacrosse
• recross
• tomas
• albatross
• applesauce
• barabbas
• helios
• kshatriyas
• blas

Kids Definition

soy sauce

noun

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