Illustration of mustard
- mustard 2
1
a
: a pungent yellow condiment consisting of the pulverized seeds of various mustard plants (such as Sinapis alba, Brassica juncea, and B. nigra) either dry or made into a paste or sauce (as by mixing with water or vinegar) and sometimes adulterated with other substances (such as turmeric) or mixed with spices
b
: the seed of a mustard plant used as a spice and in medicine as a stimulant and diuretic, an emetic, or a counterirritant
c
slang
: zest
2
: any of several herbs (genera Brassica and Sinapis of the family Brassicaceae synonym Cruciferae, the mustard family) with lobed leaves, yellow flowers, and linear beaked pods
3
: a dark to moderate yellow
Examples of mustard in a Sentence
Would you like some mustard on your hot dog?
Recent Examples on the Web
Lentils and asparagus with lemon crumbs and mustard were the ballast for salmon, which that night was somewhat bitter.
—
John Mariani, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
Sweet, smoky, spicy, tangy, or cut with mustard, barbecue sauces hold a very special place in a Southerner’s heart.
—Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 16 July 2025
Here, tomatoes and lemon slices provide a bright boost to the dish, but feel free to forgo or vary the recipe with seasonings like brown sugar and mustard or simply try out other salmon recipes.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, Denver Post, 16 July 2025
Puff pastry hot dogs are great topped with the classic combination of ketchup and mustard, but here are a few variations to try.
—Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for mustard
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John Mariani, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
Sweet, smoky, spicy, tangy, or cut with mustard, barbecue sauces hold a very special place in a Southerner’s heart.
—Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 16 July 2025
Here, tomatoes and lemon slices provide a bright boost to the dish, but feel free to forgo or vary the recipe with seasonings like brown sugar and mustard or simply try out other salmon recipes.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, Denver Post, 16 July 2025
Puff pastry hot dogs are great topped with the classic combination of ketchup and mustard, but here are a few variations to try.
—Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for mustard
Cite this Entry
“Mustard.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mustard. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
mustard
noun
mus·tard
ˈməs-tərd 
1
: any of several yellow-flowered herbs related to the turnips and cabbages
2
a
: a yellow sharp-tasting condiment consisting of the crushed seeds of various mustard plants either dry or made into a paste or sauce
b
: the seeds of a mustard plant
Medical Definition
mustard
noun
mus·tard
ˈməs-tərd
1
: a pungent yellow condiment consisting of the pulverized seeds of the black mustard or sometimes the white mustard either dry or made into a paste and serving as a stimulant and diuretic or in large doses as an emetic and as a counterirritant when applied to the skin as a poultice
2
: any of several herbs (genus Brassica of the family Cruciferae, the mustard family) with lobed leaves, yellow flowers, and linear beaked pods see black mustard sense 1, white mustard
3
a
b
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