salsa

noun

sal·​sa ˈsȯl-sə 

ˈsäl-

1

: a usually spicy sauce of chopped tomatoes, onions, and peppers that is commonly served with Mexican food

also : a similar sauce made with a main ingredient other than tomatoes

peach salsa

2

: popular music of Latin American origin that has absorbed characteristics of rhythm and blues, jazz, and rock

Examples of salsa in a Sentence

The band was playing salsa.

We're taking classes in salsa.

Recent Examples on the Web

The pollo en salsa verde tamal ($3) was also well balanced, with juicy chicken nestled in the non-GMO nixtamalized masa from northern Mexico. —Lauryn Azu, Chicago Tribune, 13 Jan. 2025

Activations have included a two-day Long Beach Strong Beach fitness party supporting athletics at local schools, an official Lunar New Year event in partnership with Sister Cities of Long Beach and salsa lessons during Dancing Underneath the Stars. —Jean Paul Wardy, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025

Esteemed Puerto Rican film director and actor, Jacobo Morales features in the video as an elder Bad Bunny who is looking back on his life, and remembering the woman who taught him how to dance salsa. —Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 9 Jan. 2025

All the salsa songs are made by young kids from escuela Libre de Música. —Jon Caramanica, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Spanish, literally, sauce, from Latin, feminine of salsus salted — more at sauce

First Known Use

circa 1962, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

salsa

noun

sal·​sa ˈsȯl-sə 

ˈsäl-

1

: a spicy sauce of tomatoes, onions, and hot peppers

2

: popular Latin American music with elements of rhythm and blues, jazz, and rock