pumpkin spice

noun

variants or less commonly pumpkin pie spice
: a mixture of usually cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, and often allspice that is commonly used in pumpkin pie
Pumpkin spice is everywhere, and at this point you simply give in to the pounds you'll potentially gain from all the glorious spreads during the holidays.—Chris Scott
By mixing in a few simple ingredients with pumpkin—think vanilla yogurt, brown sugar, pumpkin pie spice and a sprinkling of graham cracker—you create a velvety pumpkin pie experience in a matter of seconds.—Erika Chayes Wida
—often used before another noun
It's that time of year again—holiday decorations festoon the lampposts and store windows, the smell of pumpkin spice lattes pervades the air, and the chill of winter has settled in …—Lee Hutchinson
With sweet potato pie, the same pumpkin pie spice blend … is used along with the pre-baked crust.—WSOCTV.com

Examples of pumpkin spice 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.
Add the pumpkin spice blend, along with some pumpkin purée to the custard base. — Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026 Coach’s fall menu includes a pumpkin spice latte and a tiramisu latte, according to the release. — Kansas City Star, 9 Oct. 2026 How tomato leaf became spring’s pumpkin spice Fans of the scent are describing it as the warm-weather answer to pumpkin spice, the seasonal cue that signals summer the way cinnamon and nutmeg signal fall. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2026 The ongoing heat wave across the Golden State bears little resemblance to weather that reminds people of pumpkin spice and fall leaves, at least for now. — Sean MacAday, Sacbee.com, 6 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pumpkin spice

Word History

First Known Use

1930, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pumpkin spice was in 1930

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pumpkin spice.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pumpkin%20spice. Accessed 11 Oct. 2026.

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