Salem

[ sey-luhm ]

noun

1. a seaport in northeastern Massachusetts: founded 1626; site of witch hunt 1692–93; home of Nathaniel Hawthorne.
2. a city in and the capital of Oregon, in the northwestern part, on the Willamette River.
3. a town in southeastern New Hampshire.
4. a town in southwestern Virginia, near Roanoke.
5. a city in eastern Ohio.
6. a city in central Tamil Nadu, in southern India.
7. an ancient city of Canaan, later identified with Jerusalem. Genesis 14:18; Psalms 76:2.

Salem

/ ˈseɪləm /

noun

1. a city in S India, in Tamil Nadu: textile industries. Pop: 693 236 (2001)
2. a city in NE Massachusetts, on the Atlantic: scene of the execution of 19 people after the witch hunts of 1692. Pop: 42 067 (2003 est)
3. a city in the NW USA, the state capital of Oregon: food-processing. Pop: 142 914 (2003 est)
4. an Old Testament name for Jerusalem (Genesis 14:18; Psalms 76:2) See Jerusalem

Word History and Origins

Origin of Salem¹

From Late Latin Salem, from Greek Salḗm, from Hebrew Shālēm, a name of uncertain origin and meaning, but traditionally interpreted as a synonym of Jerusalem and associated in meaning with shālōm “peace”; Jerusalem ( def )

Example Sentences

If Bynum wants to make this congressional race about Trump and national Republicans, Chavez-DeRemer is eager to focus on Democrats in Salem, the state capital.

From Los Angeles Times

Salem was previously the head of culinary innovation at Burger King, where he helped launch the Impossible Whopper.

From Los Angeles Times

While one viewer took to X/Twitter to credit "Salem's Lot"'s "effective moments" and sense of "camp," they ultimately concluded that "the story is simply too rushed and truncated to work well."

From Salon

He was introduced in the “Fantastic Four” comics in the 1970s as the leader of a secret town of witches called New Salem.

From Los Angeles Times

Back in 1693, in Salem, Mass., a younger Agatha was dragged and bound to a stake to face accusations that she had betrayed her coven.

From Los Angeles Times