salty

[ sawl-tee ]

adjective

, salt·i·er, salt·i·est.

1. tasting of or containing salt; saline.
2. piquant; sharp; witty.
3. racy or coarse:

   salty humor.

4. of the sea, sailing, or life at sea:

   salty tales of adventure on the high seas.

5. Slang. (especially of a sailor) toughened by experience:

   proud and salty Marines.

6. Slang. angry, upset, or hostile, especially due to embarrassment or failure:

   He gets all salty whenever he loses.

salty

/ ˈsɔːltɪ /

adjective

1. of, tasting of, or containing salt
2. (esp of humour) sharp; piquant
3. relating to life at sea

Derived Forms

• ˈsaltily, adverb
• ˈsaltiness, noun

Other Words From

• salti·ly adverb
• salti·ness noun
• over·salty adjective
• un·salty adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of salty¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English; salt ¹, -y ¹

Example Sentences

“It’s salty. But it’s really not that nice.”

From Los Angeles Times

Asada for grilling and seasoning meat and vegetables, and Salty Angeleno for making micheladas and other cocktails and for sprinkling on fruit, salads and more.

From Los Angeles Times

You’re going to want to put Salty Angeleno michelada seasoning on everything.

From Los Angeles Times

Did that success make them less salty?

From Los Angeles Times

Ample coverage of a rally in Pennsylvania this week might suggest that his salty discourse has hit new lows.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• lively
• piquant
• pungent
• racy
• sharp
• tangy