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 mention the salsa legend is 79. —Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 29 Apr. 2026

Kristen Wile of Unpretentious Palate kindly offered me a bite of her toothsome barbacoa entree, wrapped in a collard leaf and served with mayocoba (a creamy, yellow-green canary bean) and a red and green salsa duo. —Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 28 Apr. 2026

Potato flautas, a vegetarian dish with fresh avocado, cotija cheese and a guajillo chile salsa were also well executed, but unfortunately bland, with those mashed potatoes in the filling needing more salt. —Louisa Kung Liu Chu, Chicago Tribune, 28 Apr. 2026

Located next to the chips and salsa in the snack aisle, its flavors are incredibly well-balanced. —Symiah Dorsey, Southern Living, 25 Apr. 2026

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

Phrases Containing salsa

• salsa verde

Rhymes for salsa

• balsa
• khalsa

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