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Synonyms

salami

American  
[suh-lah-mee] / səˈlɑ mi /

noun

  • salamis
    plural
  1. a kind of sausage, originally Italian, often flavored with garlic.


salami British  
/ səˈlɑːmɪ /

noun

  1. a highly seasoned type of sausage, usually flavoured with garlic

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms


Etymology

Origin of salami

1850–55; < Italian, plural of salame < Vulgar Latin *salāmen, equivalent to *salā ( re ) to salt + Latin -men noun suffix; see sal


Explanation

Salami is a type of cured sausage that's very common in sandwiches. This slightly spicy, salty meat is almost always served thinly sliced and is rarely heated or cooked. Salami is traditionally made from dried and fermented beef or pork, and seasoned with white pepper, garlic, salt, and herbs. It's a popular sandwich ingredient, as it's easy to slice and tastes great cold. The word salami is the plural form of the Italian salame, "spiced pork sausage," from the Latin root sal, or "salt."

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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.

See Examples For:

Staff have told me they want clear direction and an end to the salami slicing of resources.

From BBC ● Oct. 5, 2026

Wall Street has nevertheless been galvanized by recent mega awards that were even bigger than the salami win.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 2026

Fra’ Mani Salami Trio – There’s salami for quick sandwiches, and then there’s salami you linger over.

From Salon ● Dec. 4, 2025

Roast turkey and mortadella, vegan salami and imitation tuna salad.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2025

“I work at the deli counter. Have to give people their succulent, chemical-ridden salami and whatnot.”

From "Made You Up" by Francesca Zappia

This trio showcases three of their standout dry-aged salamis, each one worthy of its own moment.

From Salon ● Dec. 4, 2025

Inventory management was a serious issue, our backpacks stuffed with first-aid kits, bread and salamis, just like in the game.

From The Verge ● Apr. 29, 2021

She’d stuff them with fancy mustard, salamis, aspirin and Parmesan cheese, all gifts for the locals.

From Washington Times ● Oct. 1, 2019

It is these that give salamis, bacons and cooked hams their alluring pink colour.

From The Guardian ● Mar. 1, 2018

“I have the passion of cooking, pickling, curing salamis, sausage, making wine in the fall. This is my life. I do this with my friends. It’s to my heart.”

From "The Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan

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