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

Are there any natural alternatives to commercial cleaning products for glass shower doors? Vinegar, baking soda, and lemon juice are all great natural options. —Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 22 Aug. 2025

The menu was kind of overwhelming, with dozens of options for coffee, energy infusions, dirty sodas, blenders, teas, sparkling sodas, refreshers and smoothies. —Endia Fontanez, AZCentral.com, 22 Aug. 2025

Diet caffeinated and decaffeinated sodas were close behind (around 7% of people reported drinking one).2 Over the course of about 12 years, 1,706 participants developed lung cancer. —Brian Mastroianni, Health, 21 Aug. 2025

And in a sunny Austin alley outfitted with makeshift milk crate tables, earlybird Texans sip chamomile-maize soda and revel in Mercado Sin Nombre’s dusky masa pancakes. —Bon Appétit Staff & Contributors, Bon Appetit Magazine, 20 Aug. 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