salsa

noun

sal·​sa ˈsȯl-sə How to pronounce salsa (audio)
ˈsäl-
1
: a usually spicy sauce of chopped tomatoes, onions, and peppers that is commonly served with Mexican food
also : a similar sauce made with a main ingredient other than tomatoes
peach salsa
2
: popular music of Latin American origin that has absorbed characteristics of rhythm and blues, jazz, and rock

Examples of salsa in a Sentence

The band was playing salsa. We're taking classes in salsa.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Items for customer self service including beans, guacamole and salsa lacking date mark. — Nwa Democrat-Gazette, Arkansas Online, 19 Oct. 2026 Tatyana and Jan’s salsa is full to the brim with salsa content, and yet the judges ding it for not being fast and vivacious enough, even though Jan’s choreography — some of my favorite of the night — was built around the song they were assigned. — Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2026 The space has been rented for parties, salsa classes and other events throughout the years. — Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 8 Oct. 2026 Think tater tots, sour cream, salsa macha and pickled jalapeños. — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for salsa

Word History

Etymology

Spanish, literally, sauce, from Latin, feminine of salsus salted — more at sauce

First Known Use

circa 1962, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of salsa was circa 1962

Phrases Containing salsa

Rhymes for salsa

See All Rhymes for salsa

Browse Nearby Words

sal prunella
salsa
salsa verde
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Salsa.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/salsa. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

salsa

noun
sal·​sa ˈsȯl-sə How to pronounce salsa (audio)
ˈsäl-
1
: a spicy sauce of tomatoes, onions, and hot peppers
2
: popular Latin American music with elements of rhythm and blues, jazz, and rock

More from Merriam-Webster on salsa

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about salsa

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