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.
Spending more time crafting weak-salsa anti-Latino jokes than improving the lives of Latinos — that’s the racist swamp the president and his team happily fester in. — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026 As psychedelic rock took over the city in the 1960s, Latino artists blended it with Afro-Cuban beats and percussive sounds more commonly found in jazz and salsa. — Marissa J. Lang, NPR, 28 Aug. 2026 Smith is a retired GM engineer who began a salsa company with his son, according to his campaign website. — Clara Hendrickson, Freep.com, 28 Aug. 2026 Served on a bed of jasmine rice, the bowl includes chicken tinga — a Mexican dish in which the chicken is shredded and simmered in a smoky, slightly spicy red sauce — roasted corn salsa, pico de gallo, avocado crema and sliced jalapeños. — Idaho Statesman, 25 Aug. 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 1 Sep. 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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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