Phrase guide

secret sauce

noun · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

A sauce used in cooking or as a condiment, the ingredients of which are kept secret.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A sauce used in cooking or as a condiment, the ingredients of which are kept secret.

Synonym of special sauce.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: special sauce

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

A sauce used in cooking or as a condiment, the ingredients of which are kept secret.

Synonym of special sauce.

burger sauce

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

A secret idea or plan; a crucial element of something that makes it unique or functional.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, figuratively, informal, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: magic sauce, secret recipe, special sauce

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

Clandestine alcohol (alcoholic beverage), especially as a secret ingredient in a recipe or in a hip flask for surreptitious tippling.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, humorous, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.