saucer

noun

sau·​cer ˈsȯ-sər How to pronounce saucer (audio)
Synonyms of saucernext
1
: a small shallow dish in which a cup is set at table
2
: something resembling a saucer especially in shape
especially : flying saucer
saucerlike
ˈsȯ-sər-ˌlīk How to pronounce saucer (audio)
adjective

Examples of saucer 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 a table lamp, a vase of fresh flowers, and a saucer plate that matches your favorite coffee mug to sip your morning brew or a cup of hot tea for reading on weekend afternoons. — Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 10 Aug. 2026 Avoid using plant saucers or trays outdoors and don’t place rocks or other solid objects in the base of plant pots. — Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 10 Aug. 2026 Allow the plant to drip dry before returning it to its saucer, and flush the soil with water again in a few hours or the following day. — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Aug. 2026 Advertisement Do the same weekly sweep for flowerpot saucers, buckets, toys, tarps, and anything else that has collected water. — Angela Haupt, Time, 3 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for saucer

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, plate containing a condiment, from Anglo-French, from sauce

First Known Use

1693, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of saucer was in 1693

Phrases Containing saucer

Rhymes for saucer

See All Rhymes for saucer

Browse Nearby Words

saucepot
saucer
saucer dome
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Saucer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/saucer. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

saucer

noun
sau·​cer ˈsȯ-sər How to pronounce saucer (audio)
1
: a small round shallow dish in which a cup is set
2
: something like a saucer especially in shape

More from Merriam-Webster on saucer

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for saucer

Nglish: Translation of saucer for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of zeugma

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Words of the Week - Aug. 14

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All