saloon

noun

sa·​loon sə-ˈlün How to pronounce saloon (audio)
1
a
chiefly British : salon sense 1
b
chiefly British : an often elaborately decorated public hall
c(1)
: a usually large public cabin on a ship (as for dining)
(2)
: the living area on a yacht
d
chiefly British : salon sense 4
e
2
3
British
b
: sedan sense 2a

called also saloon car

Examples of saloon in a Sentence

cowboys drinking in the saloon after their work was done for the day
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The whole place is giving Old West saloon, which is only fitting in a national park-bordering town known for campy, retro-chic neon signage, and diners. Maya Kachroo-Levine, Travel + Leisure, 5 Mar. 2025 The style of the ’60s S-Type sports saloon—bold and feline when introduced—just looked frumpy on the new model of the same name that was launched in 1999 and intended to take on BMW’s world-beating 5-Series. Ben Oliver, Robb Report, 1 Mar. 2025 Some of the yacht’s standout features include: a massive, walkaround deck, semi-open saloon, and large convertible aft area that has two-fold-down bulwark platforms. Bill Springer, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025 This was once a bustling lumber town with a sawmill, its own railroad and shipping fleet, 10 hotels, 15 saloons, multiple dance halls — and a great back story. John Metcalfe, The Mercury News, 3 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for saloon

Word History

Etymology

French salon, from Italian salone, augmentative of sala hall, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German sal hall; akin to Lithuanian sala village

First Known Use

1728, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of saloon was in 1728

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Saloon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/saloon. Accessed 15 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

saloon

noun
sa·​loon sə-ˈlün How to pronounce saloon (audio)
1
: a public room for socializing especially on a ship
2

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