: a slightly alkaline secretion of water, mucin, protein, salts, and often a starch-splitting enzyme (such as ptyalin) that is secreted into the mouth by salivary glands, lubricates ingested food, and often begins the breakdown of starches
Examples of saliva in a Sentence
our mouths filled with saliva when we smelled the delicious dinner
Recent Examples on the Web
The Jawbreaker Gag will cause a person's mouth to produce more saliva than a regular gag and create a choking hazard if the person is unattended or inverted for any reason.
—
Kyler Alvord, PEOPLE, 12 Dec. 2025
But the testing showed evidence of rabies in his saliva, skin and brain tissue.
—Angela Palermo, Idaho Statesman, 11 Dec. 2025
While adult females can live for up to 100 days, most damage is inflicted by the youngest nymphs, which feed on plant sap and inject toxic saliva that causes grass to yellow, weaken, and die.
—Associate News Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025
Direct contact with mpox rash or scabs, as well as contaminated bodily fluids — like mucus, saliva or blood — are the most common ways people pass the virus to each other.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 10 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for saliva
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.
Kyler Alvord, PEOPLE, 12 Dec. 2025
But the testing showed evidence of rabies in his saliva, skin and brain tissue.
—Angela Palermo, Idaho Statesman, 11 Dec. 2025
While adult females can live for up to 100 days, most damage is inflicted by the youngest nymphs, which feed on plant sap and inject toxic saliva that causes grass to yellow, weaken, and die.
—Associate News Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025
Direct contact with mpox rash or scabs, as well as contaminated bodily fluids — like mucus, saliva or blood — are the most common ways people pass the virus to each other.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 10 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for saliva
Cite this Entry
“Saliva.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/saliva. Accessed 17 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
saliva
noun
sa·li·va
sə-ˈlī-və 
: a fluid containing water, protein, salts, and often a starch-splitting enzyme that is secreted into the mouth by salivary glands
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share