salad

noun

sal·​ad ˈsa-ləd 

1

: any of various usually cold dishes: such as

a

: raw greens (such as lettuce) often combined with other vegetables and toppings and served especially with dressing

b

: small pieces of food (such as pasta, meat, fruit, or vegetables) usually mixed with a dressing (such as mayonnaise) or set in gelatin

2

: a green vegetable or herb grown for salad

especially : lettuce

3

: a usually incongruous mixture : hodgepodge

Synonyms of salad

• medley
• variety
• assortment
• jumble
• collage

Examples of salad in a Sentence

For dinner we had roast chicken and a salad.

a salad of fresh greens

I tossed the salad with some oil and vinegar and set it on the table.

Would you like soup or salad with your sandwich?

Recent Examples on the Web

All steaks come with the choice of two sides– baked potatoes, steak cut fries, mashed potatoes, corn, green beans, rice, salad or mac and cheese, among others. —Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Mar. 2026

Another popular salad pizzas is the chicken Caesar salad pizza. —Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 23 Mar. 2026

Think incredible meals at prices that feel almost suspicious if you’re used to paying $18 for a sad desk salad. —Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 23 Mar. 2026

Veggie Grill’s menu features burgers, burritos, salads, sandwiches, wraps and superfood smoothies. —Samantha Gowen, Oc Register, 23 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English salat, salade, borrowed from Middle French salade "dish of seasoned greens and herbs," borrowed from a medieval Upper Italian predecessor of modern dialectal (Piedmont) salada, salatta (Tuscan insalata) from salar "to add salt to, salt" (going back to Vulgar Latin *salāre, re-formation of Latin salīre, sallīre "to salt, preserve with salt," derivative of sal-, sāl "salt") + -ata, -ada -ade — more at salt entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing salad

• Caesar salad
• chef's salad
• Cobb salad
• corn salad
• garden salad
• Greek salad
• house salad
• house (salad) dressing
• salad bar
• salad cream
• salad days
• salad dressing
• salad greens
• salad oil
• tossed salad
• Waldorf salad
• word salad

Rhymes for salad

• ballad
• pallid
• valid

Kids Definition

salad

noun

sal·​ad ˈsal-əd 

1

: green vegetables (as lettuce) often with tomato, cucumber, or radish served with dressing

2

: a cold dish (as of meat, shellfish, fruit, or vegetables) usually prepared with a dressing