salvo
noun
a simultaneous or successive discharge of artillery, bombs, etc.
salvo
1 American
[sal-voh]
/ ˈsæl voʊ /
noun
salvos,
plural
salvoes
plural
-
a simultaneous or successive discharge of artillery, bombs, etc.
-
a round of fire given as a salute.
-
a round of cheers or applause.
salvo
2
American
[sal-voh]
/ ˈsæl voʊ /
noun
Archaic.
salvos
plural
-
an excuse or quibbling evasion.
-
something to save a person's reputation or soothe a person's feelings.
salvo
1
British
/ ˈsælvəʊ /
noun
-
a discharge of fire from weapons in unison, esp on a ceremonial occasion
-
concentrated fire from many weapons, as in a naval battle
-
an outburst, as of applause
salvo
2
British
/ ˈsælvəʊ /
noun
-
an excuse or evasion
-
an expedient to save a reputation or soothe hurt feelings
-
(in legal documents) a saving clause; reservation
Salvo
3
British
/ ˈsælvəʊ /
noun
Etymology
Origin of salvo1
1585–95; earlier salva < Italian ≪ Latin salvē salve 3
Origin of salvo2
1635–45; < Latin salvō, ablative of salvus safe, found in legal phrases
Explanation
A salvo is when troops fire their guns all at the same time. A salvo of shots might signal the beginning of a military battle. Another word for the gunfire kind of salvo is a "volley." Military planners have used salvos as a way to overwhelm an opposing army, including during engagements between battleships and tanks. You can also use salvo in a more figurative way, describing a verbal barrage or attack: "Her direct, almost rude questions were seen as the opening salvo in the battle between the two political candidates."
Vocabulary lists containing salvo
This Week in Words: May 11–17, 2019
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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.
But this salvo is precision-guided to hit as about 5 billion viewers get hyped for the global tournament.
From Los Angeles Times • May 28, 2026
Instead, the federal agency redoubled its efforts, with the latest salvo a “letter of impending enforcement” issued Tuesday and accompanied by a statement from U.S.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 24, 2026
But Scotland scored 40 unanswered points after falling behind against France last week and they were unmoved by Ireland's early salvo as they expertly navigated 19 phases before Graham scampered clear in the corner.
From BBC • Mar. 14, 2026
Roi Elba came to the shelter with his dog Gaia to wait out a missile salvo.
From Barron's • Feb. 28, 2026
He concluded with an Adams salvo against “the peevish and fretful effusions of politicians,” then signed off as “J.A. In the 89 year of his age still too fat to last much longer.”
From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis
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.
