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Definition of miso

miso

/ˈmiːsoʊ/
mi · so
Plural:misos
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miso Lexical Profile

miso Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A thick paste made by fermenting soybeans with salt and koji (a fungus), often along with rice or barley, extensively used as a seasoning and soup base in Japanese cuisine.

Example

"She whisked a spoonful of white miso into the broth to give the soup a rich, savory umami flavor."

Word Nuance & Usage

As a standalone noun, 'miso' refers to the Japanese culinary paste, which is entirely distinct from the Greek-derived prefix 'miso-' (meaning 'hatred', as in misanthrope).

• Rhymes for miso

• Nearby Words

mismeasure
misname
misnomer
miso
miso soup
misogynist
misogynistic

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed from Japanese 味噌 (miso), traditionally written as 'flavor' and 'boisterous' or 'chatter', referring to the fermented soybean seasoning.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Miso. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/miso
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