salient
Americanadjective
-
prominent or conspicuous.
salient traits.
- Synonyms:
- remarkable, striking, important
- Antonyms:
- unimportant, inconspicuous
-
projecting or pointing outward.
a salient angle.
-
leaping or jumping.
a salient animal.
-
Heraldry. (of a beast) represented as leaping.
a lion salient.
noun
-
a salient angle or part, as the central outward-projecting angle of a bastion or an outward projection in a battle line.
-
Physical Geography. a landform that extends out beyond its surroundings, as a spur projecting from the side of a mountain.
adjective
-
prominent, conspicuous, or striking
a salient feature
-
(esp in fortifications) projecting outwards at an angle of less than 180° Compare re-entrant
-
geometry (of an angle) pointing outwards from a polygon and hence less than 180° Compare re-entrant
-
(esp of animals) leaping
noun
-
military a projection of the forward line into enemy-held territory
-
a salient angle
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of salient
First recorded in 1555–65; from Latin salient-, stem of saliēns “jumping,” present participle of salīre “to spring, jump”
Explanation
If something stands out in a very obvious way, it can be called salient. It's time to find new friends if the differences between you and your current friends are becoming more and more salient. Salient, from the Latin verb salire, "to leap," was originally used in English to refer to leaping animals such as a frog or deer and may still be used this way. Often, however, it is used in math or geography to mean protruding. A salient angle juts outward rather than inward. Figuratively, it means noticeable or prominent. When giving an argument, make your most salient points at the beginning or the end.
Vocabulary lists containing salient
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Ted Gardner, a senior portfolio manager at Westwood Holdings Group, which runs the Westwood Salient MLP & Energy Infrastructure fund, says industry growth prospects are favorable, which should lead to ample total returns.
From Barron's • Jun. 26, 2026
Salient claims its technology is more accurate than that offered by other companies and governments.
From Seattle Times • Aug. 1, 2022
A maize, dairy and sheep farmer, Edward Barngetuny, whose 40-acre farm is in the Salient area of neighbouring Nandi County, says the increased cost of fertiliser has made farmers reduce the acreage they farm.
From BBC • Jul. 28, 2022
George Smith had worked at a cement factory when he joined the British army, was sent to the Ypres Salient, and died as a private at 30.
From New York Times • Aug. 28, 2018
Salient: in the act of springing, the hind paws on the ground, both the fore paws elevated, No. 180.
From The Handbook to English Heraldry by Utting, R. B.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
