salute

¹ American  

[suh-loot] / səˈlut /

verb (used with object)

saluted, saluting

1. Military. to pay respect to or honor by some formal act, as by raising the right hand to the side of the headgear, presenting arms, firing cannon, dipping colors, etc.

2. to address with expressions of goodwill, respect, etc.; greet.

3. to make a bow or other gesture to, as in greeting, farewell, or respect.

4. to express respect or praise for; hail; commend.

   Synonyms:

   praise, laud, extol, cheer, applaud

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verb (used without object)

saluted, saluting

1. Military. to give a salute.

2. to perform a salutation.

noun

1. Military.

   1. the special act of respect paid in saluting.

   2. the position of the hand or rifle in saluting.

      at the salute.

2. an act of saluting; salutation.

3. a gold coin, bearing the image of the Virgin Mary receiving Gabriel's salutation, issued by Charles VI of France and by Henry V and Henry VI of England.

salute ² American  

[sah-loo-te] / sɑˈlu tɛ /

interjection

Italian.

1. (used after a person has sneezed or as a toast.)

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salute British  

/ səˈluːt /

verb

1. (tr) to address or welcome with friendly words or gestures of respect, such as bowing or lifting the hat; greet

2. (tr) to acknowledge with praise or honour

   we salute your gallantry

3. military to pay or receive formal respect, as by presenting arms or raising the right arm

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noun

1. the act of saluting

2. a formal military gesture of respect

Other Word Forms

• saluter noun
• unsaluted adjective
• unsaluting adjective

Etymology

Origin of salute¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English verb saluten, “to greet courteously or respectfully,” from Latin salūtāre “to greet, hail, or salute,” derivative of salūt- (stem of salūs ) “health”; Middle English noun salu (also salue ), from Old French salu, salus, saluz, from Latin, salūs

Origin of salute²

Literally, “health”

Explanation

A salute is a sign of respect. A soldier may salute senior officers by raising a hand to his or her head, or you may informally salute a neighbor with a tip of your hat. Salute often has a military context, whether used as a verb or a noun. When gladiators showed up for a day’s work at the Coliseum in Ancient Rome, they had to be prepared to die in battle for the entertainment of the emperor. Beforehand, they would address the emperor with the Latin words “morituri te salutant”, which means “Those of us who are about to die salute you.” Many centuries later, the heavy metal band AC/DC would change those words to a song with a much happier sentiment: “For those about to rock, we salute you.” Rock on.

Example Sentences

“The modern view,” Mr. Sidebottom writes, “is to doubt its historical accuracy. It is a scholarly orthodoxy that the salute was no more than a one-off impromptu acclamation that went very wrong.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

A leading Reform candidate who appeared to perform a Nazi salute in a photo has quit ahead of the Welsh Parliament election.

From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026

Belarusian state media showed Kim and Lukashenko hugging at a lavish welcome programme on Wednesday involving an artillery salute and goose-stepping soldiers before a large flag-waving crowd at Kim Il Sung Square.

From Barron's • Mar. 25, 2026

Anything would be better than trotting out another bog standard pro sports salute to the troops that year.

From Salon • Mar. 18, 2026

He points at my hoodie, then does the Vulcan salute.

From "On the Come Up" by Angie Thomas

Related Words

• acknowledge
• bow
• congratulate
• hail
• recognize
• welcome