fruit salad

American  

noun

1. a cold dish consisting of various types of small or cut-up fruit, usually served as a dessert or first course.

---

fruit salad British  

noun

1. a dish consisting of sweet fruits cut up and served in a syrup: often sold canned

---

Etymology

Origin of fruit salad

First recorded in 1850–55

Example Sentences

It’s time to retire the idea that fruit salad is just a sticky-sweet breakfast afterthought.

From Salon • May 31, 2025

“The uniform in itself was one thing, all that salad dressing — fruit salad, we’d call it — his medals. Once I put that jacket on, I became the commander in chief.”

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 1, 2024

In Greece and Turkey, for example, tomato sauce comes spiked with cinnamon, and in Mexico, fruit salad is sprinkled with cayenne pepper.

From Washington Times • Jul. 13, 2023

Snacking, for another — on a fruit salad made by her dad, with cantaloupe, pineapple and watermelon.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 1, 2023

There was peacock pie, jellied eds, Devonshire cream, curried porpoise, iced fruit salad, and two thousand side dishes.

From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White

Related Words

• potato salad