soda

noun

so·​da ˈsō-də 

1

a

: sodium carbonate

b

: sodium bicarbonate

c

: sodium

—often used in combination

soda-feldspar

nitrate of soda

2

a

: soda water sense 2a

b

: soda pop

c

: a sweet drink consisting of soda water, flavoring, and often ice cream

3

: the faro card that shows faceup in the dealing box before play begins

Examples of soda in a Sentence

I ordered fries and a soda.

Recent Examples on the Web

Root beer and other sodas are costing a little more than last year, with the liter bottle up 2% but that is still cheaper than buying the soda by the can. —Betty Lin-Fisher, USA Today, 24 June 2025

Nonalcoholic options include a variety of coffee, tea, sodas and juices. —Irene Adeline Milanez, Sacbee.com, 22 June 2025

Caffeinated drinks: Caffeine-containing drinks such as coffee, some teas, some sodas, and energy drinks cause water loss. —Merve Ceylan, Health, 21 June 2025

The protein shake has given way to protein coffees and protein matchas and protein energy drinks and protein sodas. —Lila Shroff, The Atlantic, 20 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Italian, from Arabic suwwād, any of several saltworts from the ashes of which sodium carbonate is obtained

First Known Use

1558, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing soda

• baking soda
• bicarbonate of soda
• caustic soda
• club soda
• cream soda
• nitrate of soda
• soda ash
• soda biscuit
• soda bread
• soda cracker
• soda fountain
• soda jerk
• soda lime
• soda pop
• soda water
• washing soda

Rhymes for soda

• coda
• oda
• toda
• copepoda
• decapoda
• gastropoda
• isopoda
• nematoda
• ostracoda
• pagoda

Kids Definition

soda

noun

so·​da ˈsōd-ə 

1

a

: sodium carbonate

b

: sodium bicarbonate

2

a

: soda water

b

: soda pop

c

: a sweet drink consisting of soda water, flavoring, and often ice cream

Medical Definition

soda

noun

so·​da ˈsōd-ə 

: sodium carbonate

also : sodium bicarbonate