salient

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'salient' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is especially noticeable or important. For example: "The most salient point of the meeting was that everyone had to come to an agreement."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It's a salient point, and one much discussed in political circles.

The Guardian

In recent years, the tendency to misremember past debacles as humiliations has emerged as one of the salient features of the Kremlin's conduct of international affairs.

The Guardian - Opinion

Bahari and Rosewater share a salient detail in their family histories– Rosewater's father was also tortured during the Pahlavi era – but Rosewater takes pains to prevent family feeling becoming a common denominator.

The Guardian

Candidates' reluctance to splash the Fianna Fáil label on posters and leaflets underlines two salient facts about current Irish politics.

The Guardian

Most important of all was the salient fact that News UK suffered an operating loss of £3.5m in the year up to June 2014 compared to a £51m profit the year before.

The Guardian

The underlying question here, however, goes deeper than the TV debates – it is really the viability of pan-UK parties amid a discourse where the salient question is whether you are on your own country's side – or instead on that of the hated Westminster.

The Guardian - Opinion

He's been talking to our foreign desk and has just sent this as an addition: One salient issue the film totally misses is that the actual geography of today's LRA operations is related to a potentially troubling "resource war".

The Guardian

It's salient that we remember, I think, that foundation day was Macquarie's idea and that it long ago morphed into Australia Day – the day when we, too, throw a giant party for ourselves on the anniversary of white European settlement.

The Guardian

Commuters will welcome it although the salient detail (should inflation rise above 0%) could be the definition of a freeze: the coalition used that word to describe fare rises at RPI inflation, which has still outstripped wages.

The Guardian

During the 10 days I was in Gaza, the most salient information came and went in pictures.

The Guardian - Opinion

Because of this, the issues that are most salient in voters' minds - relative to the other issues they care about - will be one of the main factors influencing who people vote for in May.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "salient" to highlight the most important or noticeable aspects of a topic or argument. This will help your reader focus on key information and understand the core message.

Common error

Avoid using "salient" when simpler words like "important" or "obvious" would suffice. "Salient" is best used when emphasizing a particularly striking or noteworthy aspect.

Linguistic Context

Salient primarily functions as an adjective. It is used to describe a noun as being particularly noticeable, important, or relevant. Ludwig AI confirms this grammatical role based on the examples it provides.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Formal & Business

24%

Science

16%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "salient" is a versatile adjective used to highlight the most important or noticeable aspects of something. Ludwig AI confirms it's grammatically correct and appropriate for use in various contexts. It is frequently found in news articles, formal business documents, and scientific publications, making it a useful term for emphasizing key information. When using "salient", ensure it truly represents the most critical element, and avoid overuse in simple contexts where more common words would suffice. Consider alternatives like "noteworthy" or "prominent" for subtle variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

noteworthy

Focuses on something deserving attention or being recorded.

prominent

Emphasizes standing out or being easily visible.

key

Highlights essential or crucial aspects.

important

Indicates significance or value.

significant

Stresses consequence or impact.

remarkable

Draws attention to something exceptional or unusual.

conspicuous

Highlights being easily noticeable.

noticeable

Emphasizes ease of detection or awareness.

outstanding

Indicates superiority or distinction.

principal

Emphasizes the element as primary or of highest importance.

FAQs

How can I use "salient" in a sentence?

Use "salient" to describe something that is particularly noticeable or important. For example, "The most "important" detail of the agreement was the payment schedule."

What are some alternatives to "salient"?

You can use alternatives like "noteworthy", "prominent", or "significant" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "most salient" or should I use another superlative?

Saying "most salient" is grammatically correct and emphasizes the highest degree of importance or noticeability among several factors.

What is the difference between "salient" and "relevant"?

"Salient" refers to something that is particularly noticeable or important, while "relevant" means connected to or appropriate to the matter at hand. Something can be relevant without being salient, and vice versa.