Salem

American  

[sey-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.

---

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

---

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. )

Example Sentences

Embarking on series three of a Channel 4 show documenting their renovation, Our Welsh Chapel Dream, Keith and Marj hope to turn Capel Salem, in Pwllheli on the Llŷn Peninsula, into their dream home.

From BBC • Apr. 17, 2026

“What’s cool about North Salem and the whole Westchester area is everyone pretty much keeps to themselves, and I really don’t get bothered up there,” he added.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 16, 2026

That includes a president, a parliament and varying governmental, military and religious hierarchies, noted Paul Salem, senior fellow at the Middle East Institute.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 3, 2026

In Salem: In the original “Thomas Crown Affair,” a stuntman for Steve McQueen takes an acrobatic thrill ride in a glider to the film’s title track, “The Windmills of Your Mind.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 16, 2026

Later that same morning a boy brought Nat a note from Nathan Read, who had opened an apothecary shop in Salem.

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