soda

noun

so·​da ˈsō-də 

1

a

: sodium carbonate

b

: sodium bicarbonate

c

: sodium

—often used in combination

soda-feldspar

nitrate of soda

2

a

: soda water sense 2a

b

: soda pop

c

: a sweet drink consisting of soda water, flavoring, and often ice cream

3

: the faro card that shows faceup in the dealing box before play begins

Examples of soda in a Sentence

I ordered fries and a soda.

Recent Examples on the Web

Other beverages like cocktails and other alcoholic drinks, specialty coffees such as lattes and soda will cost extra. —Nathan Diller, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025

People who consumed the highest levels of certain artificial sweeteners — equivalent to just one diet soda a day — saw a significant decline in their ability to remember and recall words when compared to people who consumed the lowest levels, a new study found. —Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2025

PepsiCo shares meanwhile bucked the downtrend after activist firm Elliott Investment Management took a stake in the soda maker. —Alex Harring, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2025

Woman's hands holding diet soda with ice in glass. —Hannah Millington, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Italian, from Arabic suwwād, any of several saltworts from the ashes of which sodium carbonate is obtained

First Known Use

1558, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing soda

• baking soda
• bicarbonate of soda
• caustic soda
• club soda
• cream soda
• nitrate of soda
• soda ash
• soda biscuit
• soda bread
• soda cracker
• soda fountain
• soda jerk
• soda lime
• soda pop
• soda water
• washing soda

Rhymes for soda

• coda
• oda
• toda
• copepoda
• decapoda
• gastropoda
• isopoda
• nematoda
• ostracoda
• pagoda

Kids Definition

soda

noun

so·​da ˈsōd-ə 

1

a

: sodium carbonate

b

: sodium bicarbonate

2

a

: soda water

b

: soda pop

c

: a sweet drink consisting of soda water, flavoring, and often ice cream

Medical Definition

soda

noun

so·​da ˈsōd-ə 

: sodium carbonate

also : sodium bicarbonate