Word of the day · 12 April 2026
salient
/ˈseɪliənt/
adjective
Most noticeable or important; standing out from the rest.
In a sentence
- Cost was the salient issue in the debate.
- She summarized the salient findings in one page.
- The tower is the salient landmark on the skyline.
In an image
Origin
From Latin salire (to leap); salient once described leaping or projecting features.
History
Military maps marked a salient as a bulge in a front line. In writing, salient facts are the ones that leap out for attention. Analysts list salient risks; teachers stress salient themes. The leap metaphor still guides good use.
Nearby words
notable · prominent · key
The point that leaps forward in a crowded field.