coleslaw

noun

cole·​slaw ˈkōl-ˌslȯ 

variants or less commonly cole slaw

plural coleslaws also cole slaws

: a salad made of raw sliced or chopped cabbage and often additional ingredients (such as shredded carrots or raisins) tossed in a usually creamy dressing

called also slaw

Examples of coleslaw in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Milk, sour cream, cream cheese, coleslaw and butter had been in the reach-in cooler for more than four hours without getting down to 41 degrees. — David J. Neal july 24, Miami Herald, 24 July 2026

There was the chicken salad sandwich, the Cinnamon Clusters, the coleslaw, and the spicy Chick-fil-A Chick-n-Strips. — Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 22 July 2026

The restaurant’s signature Lazy Lobster involves fresh lobster meat sautéed in butter and is served with corn on the cob, coleslaw, and the restaurant’s can’t-miss blueberry cornbread. — Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 21 July 2026

Raspberries, basil, salad mixes — like vegetable trays and coleslaw — cilantro, berry and fruit mixes, lettuce and snap peas have all been linked to outbreaks in the past. — Jacqueline Howard, CNN Money, 15 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Dutch koolsla, from kool cabbage + sla salad

First Known Use

1794, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for coleslaw

• allantois
• baccarat
• chickasaw
• mackinaw
• overawe
• oversaw
• quebecois
• yojana
• aa
• aha
• bashaw
• bradshaw

Kids Definition

coleslaw

noun

cole·​slaw ˈkōl-ˌslȯ 

: a salad made of sliced or chopped raw cabbage