in•gre•di•ent (ɪnˈgri di ənt) n. 1. something that enters as an element into a mixture: the ingredients of a cake. 2. a constituent element of anything: the ingredients of political success. Browse recipes by ingredients like chicken, beef and chocolate, and search for seasonal favorites like apples, asparagus, pumpkin, strawberries, zucchini, tomatoes and more. INGREDIENT definition: something that enters as an element into a mixture. See examples of ingredient used in a sentence. Find recipes organized by primary and important ingredients, like oils, flours and herbs. The meaning of INGREDIENT is something that enters into a compound or is a component part of any combination or mixture : constituent. How to use ingredient in a sentence. Synonym Discussion of Ingredient. In a general sense, an ingredient is a substance which forms part of a mixture. In cooking, recipes specify which ingredients are used to prepare a dish, and the term may also refer to a specific food item in relation to its use in different recipes. Obviously, it implies an insight into the local interactions between the ingredients we have at our disposal: bubbles, cavities, and the boundary layer.