salient

C2+ Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈseɪliənt/ UK /ˈseɪliənt/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

adj
most noticeable or important; prominent

The report summarized the salient points of the debate.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · most noticeable or... prominent conspicuous notable striking marked pronounced outstanding

Opposites

inconspicuous minor insignificant unremarkable

Word family

Derived forms saliencesaliencysaliently

Related forms salienceresilient assail

Simplified etymology

Salient entered English in the mid-16th century from Latin salire, “to leap.” It was first a heraldic term meaning “leaping”; the now-common sense “outstanding” or “significant” appeared in the mid-19th century.

Etymology

From Latin saliens, salient-, the present participle of salire ('to leap, spring'); the sense 'prominent' developed from the idea of something jutting or leaping out.

saliens Latin salire Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# salient

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ˈseɪliənt/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈseɪliənt/

## Meanings
1. most noticeable or important; prominent

## Examples
- The report summarized the salient points of the debate.

## Synonyms
- prominent
- conspicuous
- notable
- striking
- marked
- pronounced
- outstanding

## Antonyms
- inconspicuous
- minor
- insignificant
- unremarkable

## Derived Forms
- salience
- saliency
- saliently

## Related Forms
- salience
- resilient
- assail

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: saliens
- Root: salire

## Etymology
From Latin saliens, salient-, the present participle of salire ('to leap, spring'); the sense 'prominent' developed from the idea of something jutting or leaping out.

## AI Etymology
Salient comes from Latin saliens, salient-, the present participle of salire ('to leap, spring'); the sense 'prominent' developed from the idea of something jutting or leaping out. The form is best read as a historical transfer or inheritance, with its older language material carrying the main semantic load. As an adjective and noun, it carries the sense "most noticeable or important; prominent", with the older formation still helping explain the modern use. Relevant historical forms include Latin saliens and Latin salire. Derivative forms include salience, saliency, saliently; related words include salience, resilient, assail.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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