salad dressing

American  

noun

1. a sauce for a salad, usually with a base of oil and vinegar or of mayonnaise.

---

salad dressing British  

noun

1. a sauce for salad, such as oil and vinegar or mayonnaise

---

Etymology

Origin of salad dressing

First recorded in 1830–40

Example Sentences

The new guidelines take a much harder line on added sugars, found in everything from cookies to salad dressing and bread.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 7, 2026

And there’s something about their salad dressing that is exactly what my taste buds want in a salad dressing.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 8, 2025

A food writer friend and I now send recipes back and forth — nothing too serious, just the kind of thing you'd text if you could send a sandwich or a salad dressing via USPS.

From Salon • Apr. 10, 2025

The university is already using the syrup in its food service program to create new flavors of salad dressing and barbecue sauce, and also sells it at farmers’ markets.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 24, 2024

Mom sat at the kitchen table, still in her uniform, the black apron stained with salad dressing and other unidentifiable food particles.

From "We Are the Ants" by Shaun David Hutchinson