Waldorf salad

noun

Wal·​dorf salad ˈwȯl-ˌdȯrf- How to pronounce Waldorf salad (audio)
: a salad made typically of diced apples, celery, nuts, and mayonnaise

Examples of Waldorf salad in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Edging out Waldorf salad, probably. Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 5 Feb. 2026 Anthony has reworked the classic Waldorf salad of celery, mayonnaise, apples and (later) walnuts created when the hotel opened in 1893, to now include grapes and a lighter lemon dressing. John Mariani, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026 Imagine a Waldorf salad, but lighter and more refreshing, with a tangy lemon-thyme vinaigrette. Ginger Crichton, Midwest Living, 12 Jan. 2026 At the iconic Manhattan hotel, which reopened in July after an ambitious eight-year renovation that restored the landmark to its art deco grandeur, guests can order a room service package that includes a bespoke bedside preparation of their famous Waldorf salad. Sonal Dutt, PEOPLE, 15 Dec. 2025 The modern diner offers inventive takes on everything from frittatas to Reubens to Waldorf salads. Keith Pandolfi, Cincinnati Enquirer, 4 Nov. 2025 Menu items include ambrosia and Waldorf salads, turducken, holiday sides and pumpkin pie, paired with a cranberry maple old-fashioned. Elaine Rewolinski, jsonline.com, 3 Nov. 2025 This update on the Waldorf salad amplifies the crunch and flavor of the classic, which was invented at New York City’s Waldorf Astoria hotel in 1893. The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Oct. 2025 Its namesake Waldorf salad—a crisp mixture of apples and celery tossed in creamy mayonnaise, created in the late nineteenth century by Oscar Tschirky, the original maître d’hôtel—became a staple of innumerable luncheons, a pillar of countless Junior League cookbooks. Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, New York City

First Known Use

1895, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Waldorf salad was in 1895

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Cite this Entry

“Waldorf salad.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Waldorf%20salad. Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

Waldorf salad

noun
Wal·​dorf salad ˌwȯl-ˌdȯrf- How to pronounce Waldorf salad (audio)
: a salad usually containing apples, celery, nuts, and mayonnaise
Etymology

named for the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City

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