wasabi

noun

wa·​sa·​bi wä-ˈsä-bē How to pronounce wasabi (audio)
wə-ˈsä-;
ˈwä-sə-bē How to pronounce wasabi (audio)
1
: a condiment that is prepared from the ground thick pungent greenish rhizome of an Asian herb (Eutrema japonicum synonym Wasabia japonica) of the mustard family and is similar in flavor and use to horseradish
also : the rhizome
2
: the herb that yields wasabi

Examples of wasabi 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.
The skewers are tsukune, chicken thigh with leek, chicken breast with wasabi, and mushroom with nitsume sauce. — Sam Flemming, AJC.com, 25 Oct. 2026 Scallop crudo, a wedge salad piled with jumbo lump crab and sharpened with wasabi dressing, and a lobster roll with saffron coleslaw sit comfortably alongside American classics like a double cheeseburger and fries. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026 The food menu complements the martini focus, with easy raw bar pairings like caviar service, coconut fluke ceviche and tuna tartare served with avocado mousse and wasabi. — Kristen Tauer, Footwear News, 8 Sep. 2026 But inside, hand-ground wasabi, ultrafresh fish flown in from Japan, and a top-shelf sake selection add up to a standout meal. — Erika Ebsworth-Goold, Midwest Living, 3 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for wasabi

Word History

Etymology

Japanese

First Known Use

1891, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of wasabi was in 1891

Rhymes for wasabi

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Browse Nearby Words

was
wasabi
Wasatch Range
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Cite this Entry

“Wasabi.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wasabi. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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