sumac

American  

[soo-mak, shoo-] / ˈsu mæk, ˈʃu- /

Or sumach

noun

1. any of several shrubs or small trees belonging to the genus Rhus of the cashew family, having milky sap, compound leaves, and small, fleshy fruit.

2. a preparation of the dried and powdered leaves, bark, etc., of certain species of Rhus, especially R. coriaria of southern Europe, used especially in tanning.

3. the wood of these trees.

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Etymology

Origin of sumac

1250–1300; Middle English < Medieval Latin < Arabic summāq

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sumac

Tart and sweet, Lev Sercarz likens sumac to a “red-wine vinegar powder of sorts.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 16, 2026

I share Vejar’s loathing for the relentless “tree of heaven,” the deciduous plant that is sometimes called a stinking sumac.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2025

If you don’t have sumac or lemon on hand, you can even try something flashier, like balsamic, Worcestershire, fish sauce, soy sauce or the like.

From Salon ● Mar. 21, 2025

For full-spectrum flavor, you could also include a pinch of sumac for sourness, a fleck of crushed dried seaweed for savoriness and a dash of poppy seeds for sweet nuttiness.

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 15, 2023

I had not stolen so much as a sumac berry, though I will admit now that I deserved the punishment.

From "The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams" by Daniel Nayeri