saloon

American  

[suh-loon] / səˈlun /

noun

1. a place for the sale and consumption of alcoholic drinks.

2. a room or place for general use for a specific purpose.

   a dining saloon on a ship.

3. a large cabin for the common use of passengers on a passenger vessel.

4. British.

   1. (in a tavern or pub) a section of a bar or barroom separated from the public bar and often having more comfortable furnishings and a quieter atmosphere.

   2. saloon car.

5. a drawing room or reception room.

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saloon British  

/ səˈluːn /

noun

1. Also called: saloon bar.  another word for lounge

2. a large public room on a passenger ship

3. any large public room used for a specific purpose

   a dancing saloon

4. a place where alcoholic drink is sold and consumed

5. US, Canadian, and NZ name: sedan.  a closed two-door or four-door car with four to six seats

6. an obsolete word for salon

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Etymology

Origin of saloon

First recorded in 1720–30; variant of salon

Example Sentences

Another MP talks of the "last chance saloon".

From BBC • Feb. 9, 2026

Zak Crawley and Ollie Pope are on their last drink in last chance saloon.

From BBC • Dec. 17, 2025

That’s after watching a documentary about frontiersman Henry James Entrikin, enjoying a drink at a saloon and grilling hot dogs.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 8, 2025

Morris, Pusser visited a saloon called the Plantation Club, run at the time by W.O.

From Slate • Nov. 6, 2025

“This is more than the saloon, Sam. We have to tell them they’re being lied to. They’re sick.”

From "The Underground Railroad: A Novel" by Colson Whitehead

Related Words

• barroom
• hangout
• nightclub
• pub
• speakeasy
• tavern
• watering hole