salient

[ sey-lee-uhnt, seyl-yuhnt ]

adjective

1. prominent or conspicuous:

   salient traits.

   Synonyms: remarkable, striking, important

   Antonyms: unimportant, inconspicuous

2. projecting or pointing outward:

   a salient angle.

3. leaping or jumping:

   a salient animal.

4. Heraldry. (of a beast) represented as leaping:

   a lion salient.

noun

1. a salient angle or part, as the central outward-projecting angle of a bastion or an outward projection in a battle line.
2. Physical Geography. a landform that extends out beyond its surroundings, as a spur projecting from the side of a mountain. Compare reentrant ( def 4 ).

salient

/ ˈseɪlɪənt /

adjective

1. prominent, conspicuous, or striking

   a salient feature

2. (esp in fortifications) projecting outwards at an angle of less than 180° Compare re-entrant
3. geometry (of an angle) pointing outwards from a polygon and hence less than 180° Compare re-entrant
4. (esp of animals) leaping

noun

1. military a projection of the forward line into enemy-held territory
2. a salient angle

Derived Forms

• ˈsalience, noun
• ˈsaliently, adverb

Other Words From

• sali·ent·ly adverb
• un·sali·ent adjective
• un·sali·ent·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of salient¹

First recorded in 1555–65; from Latin salient-, stem of saliēns “jumping,” present participle of salīre “to spring, jump”

Word History and Origins

Origin of salient¹

C16: from Latin salīre to leap

Example Sentences

In a sign of how salient the issue of abortion has been for voters, Republican White House nominee Donald Trump, a resident of Florida, has tried to back away from his once-hardline stance against abortion.

From BBC

Donald Trump, meanwhile, has tried to downplay abortion as a salient issue in this year's campaign, claiming it has “dropped way down” and even suggesting he would veto a hypothetical national abortion ban.

From Salon

"I think that consensus is now broken and expect it to be one of the most salient issues in federal and provincial politics over the next year."

From BBC

A major aim of conservative elites has always been to diminish class as a salient aspect of political identity.

From Salon

His economic record and his salient leadership should have been enough to keep his coalition together from 2020, despite the concerns of his age.

From Salon

Related Words

• arresting
• conspicuous
• pertinent
• weighty