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

The most popular Langer’s sandwich is the No. 19, a tower of pastrami, Swiss cheese, coleslaw and Russian dressing served on double-baked rye bread. —Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2025

Cheap meal option: Experience Bulgogi Box’s boneless Korean fried chicken wings, served with Asian coleslaw. —Mari Pressley, Charlotte Observer, 8 May 2025

Fill up the whole family with this easy recipe, and round out the plate with coleslaw and pickles. —Catherine Jessee, Southern Living, 6 May 2025

Every Sunday night, families took the leftover meat from their weekend roast (ham, turkey, chicken, etc.) and served it cold alongside an array of potato salads and coleslaws. —Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 3 May 2025

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