English · Word Candidate

salsa

/ˈsɑl.sə/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: salsas · salsaing · salsaed

Sense 1

Meaning · English

A spicy tomato sauce of Mexican origin, often including onions and hot peppers.

Noun

Examples

Congressmen gleefully wolfed down every imaginable version of the hot dog – smoked kielbasas, jumbo grillers, Big & Juicy's, kosher dogs and spiced dogs – topped with every imaginable condiment – hot mustard, sweet mustard, jalapenos, spaghetti sauce, regular relish, corn relish, maple syrup salsa a

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

A style of urban music originally from New York heavily influenced by Cuban dance music, jazz and rock.

Noun

Examples

The marina was a mainstay of the neighborhood, and Mr. O’Rourke was known for staging salsa and merengue concerts.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Meaning · English

To dance the salsa.

Verb

Examples

They salsaed late until the night.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “salsa” mean?

A spicy tomato sauce of Mexican origin, often including onions and hot peppers.

Is “salsa” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.