Salem

American  

[say-luhm] / ˈseɪ ləm /

noun

1. a seaport in northeastern Massachusetts: founded 1626; site of witch hunt 1692–93; home of Nathaniel Hawthorne.

2. a city in and the capital of Oregon, in the northwestern part, on the Willamette River.

3. a town in southeastern New Hampshire.

4. a town in southwestern Virginia, near Roanoke.

5. a city in eastern Ohio.

6. a city in central Tamil Nadu, in southern India.

7. an ancient city of Canaan, later identified with Jerusalem. Genesis 14:18; Psalms 76:2.

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Salem British  

/ ˈseɪləm /

noun

1. a city in S India, in Tamil Nadu: textile industries. Pop: 693 236 (2001)

2. a city in NE Massachusetts, on the Atlantic: scene of the execution of 19 people after the witch hunts of 1692. Pop: 42 067 (2003 est)

3. a city in the NW USA, the state capital of Oregon: food-processing. Pop: 142 914 (2003 est)

4. an Old Testament name for Jerusalem (Genesis 14:18; Psalms 76:2) See Jerusalem

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Etymology

Origin of Salem

From Late Latin Salem, from Greek Salḗm, from Hebrew Shālēm, a name of uncertain origin and meaning, but traditionally interpreted as a synonym of Jerusalem and associated in meaning with shālōm “peace”; see also Jerusalem ( def. )

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Salem

Jones and Hogarth, an actor, bought 163-year-old Capel Salem on the Llŷn Peninsula in 2022 and have been transforming it into their dream home, alongside a pottery studio and community space.

From BBC ● Oct. 24, 2026

Like many Kuwaitis, Salem Al-Ghanem still vividly remembers Iraqi tanks rolling through his hometown when his small Gulf state faced extinction had US troops not liberated it from invasion.

From Barron's ● Aug. 25, 2026

By his own account, Piker is now preparing a defamation suit against Jennings and Salem Media, and possibly Fox News, which cited the same debunked compilation.

From Salon ● Aug. 22, 2026

Originally part of Salem, Mass., the area was settled by the English in 1629.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 10, 2026

Almost three months out of Salem, the Henry reached the Cape of Good Hope, and ran into more bad weather.

From "Carry On, Mr. Bowditch" by Jean Lee Latham

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