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

Some salsa was stored without a proper date marking and there was an accumulation of food debris on the grill and stove. — Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 July 2026

As ever, the Garlic Festival will host a slate of garlic-heavy cuisine from shrimp scampi and calamari to garlic fries – and this year will feature the return of a Garlic salsa recipe that once graced the festival. — Luis Melecio-Zambrano, Mercury News, 17 July 2026

Lobster enchiladas come with salsa roja, queso fresco, and lime crema; pan-roasted salmon is accompanied by gluten-free peanut noodles and cucumber salad spiked with nuoc cham (a Vietnamese dipping sauce). — Luke Pyenson, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 July 2026

Breakfast Burrito with Mini Egg Frittatas Top a whole wheat flour tortilla with an egg frittata (see recipe below) topped with a tablespoon of salsa and sliced avocado and heat for 30 seconds. — Elisa Zied, Parents, 15 July 2026

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

Phrases Containing salsa

• salsa verde

Rhymes for salsa

• balsa
• khalsa

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