salad

noun

sal·​ad ˈsa-ləd How to pronounce salad (audio)
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

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.
Dishes like the black-eyed pea fritter salad and North African shakshuka are inspired by students’ cultural identities. Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 13 July 2025 From a classic tomato sandwich to chicken salad and more, these are the best no-cook dishes to make during the summer, according to our readers. Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 12 July 2025 Add steamed or roasted vegetables, or a green salad on the side and dinner is ready to serve. Robin Miller, AZCentral.com, 10 July 2025 For those who get hungry while hanging out there, there’s a new pool bar serving fresh fruit and vegetable juices, a Caesar salad and healthy bowl combinations. Laurie Werner, Forbes.com, 10 July 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

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Cite this Entry

“Salad.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/salad. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.

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

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