salient

[sey-lee-uhnt, seyl-yuhnt]

adjective

1. prominent or conspicuous.

   salient traits.

   Synonyms: remarkable, striking, important
   Antonyms: unimportant, inconspicuous

2. projecting or pointing outward.

   a salient angle.

3. leaping or jumping.

   a salient animal.

4. Heraldry.,  (of a beast) represented as leaping.

   a lion salient.

noun

1. a salient angle or part, as the central outward-projecting angle of a bastion or an outward projection in a battle line.

2. Physical Geography.,  a landform that extends out beyond its surroundings, as a spur projecting from the side of a mountain.

salient

/ ˈseɪlɪənt /

adjective

1. prominent, conspicuous, or striking

   a salient feature

2. (esp in fortifications) projecting outwards at an angle of less than 180° Compare re-entrant

3. geometry (of an angle) pointing outwards from a polygon and hence less than 180° Compare re-entrant

4. (esp of animals) leaping

noun

1. military a projection of the forward line into enemy-held territory

2. a salient angle

Other Word Forms

• salience noun
• saliently adverb
• unsalient adjective
• unsaliently adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of salient¹

First recorded in 1555–65; from Latin salient-, stem of saliēns “jumping,” present participle of salīre “to spring, jump”

Word History and Origins

Origin of salient¹

C16: from Latin salīre to leap

Example Sentences

The latter is salient because the name Oracle comes from the code name of a CIA-funded project that Ellison worked on.

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But race remains a politically and culturally salient issue.

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“However, it can be a relevant factor when considered along with other salient factors.”

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"However, it can be a 'relevant factor' when considered along with other salient factors."

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The commission said this was "a salient reminder to the commission not to jump to conclusions and the dangers of drawing adverse inferences from events unknown".

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Related Words

• arresting 
• conspicuous 
• pertinent 
• weighty