Jump To:

• salt of the earth
  salt of the earth

  noun

  an individual or group considered as representative of the best or noblest elements of society.
• salt of the Earth
  salt of the Earth

  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.”

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

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

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 1, 2025

He described the three people killed as “three beloved parishioners — salt of the earth people, just great, great people.”

From Washington Times • Jun. 26, 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

The energy in Liverpool, it's just salt of the earth people.

From BBC • Sep. 22, 2022

Unfortunately for cosmic justice, many gifted writers are scoundrels, and many inept ones are the salt of the earth.

From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker

Related Words

• admirable
• decent
• deserving
• desirable
• excellent
• honest
• laudable
• noble
• reliable
• satisfying
• true
• trustworthy
• valuable
• worthwhile