saloon

noun

sa·​loon sə-ˈlün 

1

a

chiefly British : salon sense 1

b

chiefly British : an often elaborately decorated public hall

c(1)

: a usually large public cabin on a ship (as for dining)

(2)

: the living area on a yacht

d

chiefly British : salon sense 4

e

: barroom

2

: salon sense 2

3

British

a

: parlor car

b

: sedan sense 2a

called also saloon car

Synonyms

• bar
• barroom
• café
• cafe
• cantina [Southwest]
• dramshop
• gin mill
• grogshop [chiefly British]
• pub
• public house [chiefly British]
• taproom
• tavern
• watering hole
• watering place

Examples of saloon in a Sentence

cowboys drinking in the saloon after their work was done for the day

Recent Examples on the Web

Nearly an hour elapses before evil descends upon the saloon. —A.a. Dowd, Rolling Stone, 17 Apr. 2025

The Bird Cage Theater, which opened in 1881 and also served as a saloon and dance hall, is still standing and open for tours. —Richard Grant, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 Mar. 2025

Related Articles East Bay woman accused of elder theft hit with federal charge Elderly man killed in East Bay hit-and-run Oakland saloon hit by gunfire after patron forcibly removed, authorities say After Fremont ambush homicide, police say a lead suspect got a ride to the Mexico border. —Harry Harris, The Mercury News, 24 Dec. 2024

The hotel’s adobe-style buildings are interconnected, with paths weaving between the rooms, a moody saloon, and the breezy restaurant. —Rosecrans Baldwin, Travel + Leisure, 12 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

French salon, from Italian salone, augmentative of sala hall, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German sal hall; akin to Lithuanian sala village

First Known Use

1728, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for saloon

• attune
• baboon
• balloon
• bassoon
• buffoon
• cartoon
• cocoon
• festoon
• gaboon
• harpoon
• immune
• impugn

Kids Definition

saloon

noun

sa·​loon sə-ˈlün 

1

: a public room for socializing especially on a ship

2

: barroom