salutation

[ sal-yuh-tey-shuhn ]

See synonyms for: salutation salutations on Thesaurus.com

noun

the act of saluting.
something uttered, written, or done by way of saluting.

a word or phrase serving as the prefatory greeting in a letter or speech, as Dear Sir in a letter or Ladies and Gentlemen in a speech.

Origin of salutation

1350–1400; Middle English <Latin salūtātiōn- (stem of salūtātiō) greeting, equivalent to salūtāt(us) (past participle of salūtāre to greet; see salute, -ate¹) + -iōn--ion

Other words from salutation

sal·u·ta·tion·al, adjective
sal·u·ta·tion·less, adjective
non·sal·u·ta·tion, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use salutation in a sentence

With his disarming, tongue-in-cheek salutations, he got on the phone.
The Private David Frost | John M. Florescu | September 3, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
They're also a good source of protein and easily digestible, so no rumbling stomach during sun salutations.
6 Snacks to Eat for Your Workout | Divya Gugnani | August 15, 2010 | THE DAILY BEAST
The former now held out his hand to Harry Maylie, and hearty salutations were exchanged between them.
Oliver Twist, Vol. II (of 3) | Charles Dickens
Their garb, their gestures, their salutations, had a wild and barbarous character.
The History of England from the Accession of James II. | Thomas Babington Macaulay
He went in, and returned in a short time fully equipped; Himmut accompanied him, and we exchanged salutations.
Confessions of a Thug | Philip Meadows Taylor

No communications passed between him and the stranger after the first salutations of the morning.
The Spy | J. Fenimore Cooper
I made him my salutations, and complimented him upon his look of health; for I feared he had perhaps been ill.
The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson, Volume XXI | Robert Louis Stevenson

British Dictionary definitions for salutation

salutation

/ (ˌsæljʊˈteɪʃən) /

noun

an act, phrase, gesture, etc, that serves as a greeting
a form of words used as an opening to a speech or letter, such as Dear Sir or Ladies and Gentlemen

the act of saluting

Origin of salutation

C14: from Latin salūtātiō, from salūtāre to greet; see salute

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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