salsa

noun

sal·​sa ˈsȯl-sə 

ˈsäl-

1

: a usually spicy sauce of chopped tomatoes, onions, and peppers that is commonly served with Mexican food

also : a similar sauce made with a main ingredient other than tomatoes

peach salsa

2

: popular music of Latin American origin that has absorbed characteristics of rhythm and blues, jazz, and rock

Examples of salsa in a Sentence

The band was playing salsa.

We're taking classes in salsa.

Recent Examples on the Web

There's also a selection of shareable plates, including elevated street foods, seafood options, mesquite beets and maitake mushrooms in salsa verde. —Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 17 Apr. 2024

As Gabriel was jumpstarting his career in Mexico in the 1970s, Lavoe had established himself as one of the greatest salsa music performers in New York City, later becoming known by salsa lovers everywhere as one of the genre's greats. —Nicole Acevedo, NBC News, 16 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Spanish, literally, sauce, from Latin, feminine of salsus salted — more at sauce

First Known Use

circa 1962, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

salsa

noun

sal·​sa ˈsȯl-sə 

ˈsäl-

1

: a spicy sauce of tomatoes, onions, and hot peppers

2

: popular Latin American music with elements of rhythm and blues, jazz, and rock