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Synonyms

salt of the earth

American  

noun

  1. an individual or group considered as representative of the best or noblest elements of society.

salt of the Earth Cultural  

  1. Basic, fundamental goodness; the phrase can be used to describe any simple, good person: “I like Mary: she's reliable, trustworthy, and straightforward; she's the salt of the Earth.” In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells his followers, who are mainly fishermen and other simple people, “Ye are the salt of the Earth.”

Etymology

Origin of salt of the earth

1350–1400; Middle English; after Matthew 5:13

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.

“The people we cater to at these things are ... everyday people, salt of the earth people.”

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 1, 2025

Elliott is very familiar with playing tough, salt of the earth characters like cowboys.

From Washington Times • Jun. 22, 2023

"It is true there are few of us here, but we call ourselves the salt of the earth because even a pinch of salt can add a lot of flavour to this town."

From Reuters • Apr. 13, 2023

"That's how these people are. They're salt of the earth... That's what we're trying to save."

From BBC • Nov. 24, 2020

These were good people, common people; the salt of the earth; people whom I should count myself fortunate to know.

From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.