salad

noun

sal·​ad ˈsa-ləd How to pronounce salad (audio)
Synonyms of saladnext
1
: any of various usually cold dishes: such as
a
: raw greens (such as lettuce) often combined with other vegetables and toppings and served especially with dressing
b
: small pieces of food (such as pasta, meat, fruit, or vegetables) usually mixed with a dressing (such as mayonnaise) or set in gelatin
2
: a green vegetable or herb grown for salad
especially : lettuce
3
: a usually incongruous mixture : hodgepodge

Synonyms

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Examples of salad in a Sentence

For dinner we had roast chicken and a salad. a salad of fresh greens I tossed the salad with some oil and vinegar and set it on the table. Would you like soup or salad with your sandwich?
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.
Bacon is a major player in this warm asparagus and bean salad, taking on the roles of flavorful garnish and dressing. — Kelly Brant, Arkansas Online, 8 Apr. 2025 To start, there’s a bread basket of warm, flaky pastries, paired with a selection of cold cuts, smoked salmon with herb cream cheese, or a watermelon and za’atar halloumi salad. — Scott Campbell, Travel + Leisure, 6 Apr. 2025 Try the dubious-looking but magical house dressing, and be sure to dip your salad’s oversized croutons into it for good measure. — Katie Akin, Southern Living, 6 Apr. 2025 Dolly shared her Miracle Madness salad recipe as part of her February menu. — Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for salad

Word History

Etymology

Middle English salat, salade, borrowed from Middle French salade "dish of seasoned greens and herbs," borrowed from a medieval Upper Italian predecessor of modern dialectal (Piedmont) salada, salatta (Tuscan insalata) from salar "to add salt to, salt" (going back to Vulgar Latin *salāre, re-formation of Latin salīre, sallīre "to salt, preserve with salt," derivative of sal-, sāl "salt") + -ata, -ada -ade — more at salt entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of salad was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing salad

Rhymes for salad

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Browse Nearby Words

salacot
salad
salada
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Cite this Entry

“Salad.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/salad. Accessed 17 Apr. 2025.

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Kids Definition

salad

noun
sal·​ad ˈsal-əd How to pronounce salad (audio)
1
: green vegetables (as lettuce) often with tomato, cucumber, or radish served with dressing
2
: a cold dish (as of meat, shellfish, fruit, or vegetables) usually prepared with a dressing

More from Merriam-Webster on salad

Nglish: Translation of salad for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about salad

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