saltier; saltiest
1
a
: of, seasoned with, or containing salt
salty foods
b
: being, inducing, or marked by the one of the five basic taste sensations that is suggestive of seawater compare bitter entry 1 sense 1a, sour entry 1 sense 1, sweet entry 1 sense 1, umami entry 2
2
: smacking of the sea or nautical life
4
informal
: feeling or showing resentment towards a person or situation : bitter
I completely forgot about our date and left my girlfriend waiting at the restaurant for over an hour. Now she's all salty.—
Nicole Lane
Nicole LaneThey made me shave my beard and cover up my tattoos, which I was a little salty about.—Jon Niccum
Jon Niccum
: the taste sensation that is suggestive of seawater compare bitter entry 2 sense 1b, sour entry 2 sense 1b, sweet entry 3 sense 2, umami entry 1
Examples of salty in a Sentence
Adjective
I think the soup tastes salty.
salty sea water is safe to swim in, but you really shouldn't swallow it
Recent Examples on the Web
Anne Byrn, Southern Living, 27 Nov. 2025
Feta dips can be sharp and salty, but this one is smoothed out with yogurt and a heap of soft herbs, turning it into something light, fluffy and very green.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Nov. 2025
Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 19 Nov. 2025
Most tasters felt that this cottage cheese was sweet while some felt that its curds were a little salty.
—Catherine Jessee, Southern Living, 10 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for salty
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Adjective
The very thought of future funerals, baptisms, weddings, holidays, and even a random cocktail party was unthinkable without the crispy, buttery, salty cheese biscuits that Aunt Mimi had baked and shared generously with others.
—Anne Byrn, Southern Living, 27 Nov. 2025
Feta dips can be sharp and salty, but this one is smoothed out with yogurt and a heap of soft herbs, turning it into something light, fluffy and very green.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Nov. 2025
Noun
Reggiano has her share of critics and detractors who find her performance style grating and her attitude in the press salty.
—Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 19 Nov. 2025
Most tasters felt that this cottage cheese was sweet while some felt that its curds were a little salty.
—Catherine Jessee, Southern Living, 10 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for salty
Cite this Entry
“Salty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/salty. Accessed 4 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
salty
adjective
saltier; saltiest
1
: seasoned with or containing salt : tasting of or like salt
2
: having the flavor of or suggesting the sea or things related to the sea
3
: racy entry 1 sense 2
a salty remark
saltiness
noun
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