What does "saloon" mean?
A tavern, especially in an American Old West setting.
Saloon
/səˈlun/ noun
noun ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A tavern, especially in an American Old West setting.
- Grammar: saloon is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: bar, barroom, pub, alehouse.
- Useful contrasts: hatchback, library, private cabin.
- Usage evidence: Barsoom was the biggest Martian town. It had the fanciest saloon. It was the Wild, Wild Red.
How to use "saloon"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "saloon" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "saloon" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "saloon" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "saloon" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "saloon" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "bar" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "saloon", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A tavern, especially in an American Old West setting. US
"Near-synonyms: pub; see also Thesaurus:pub"
- 2 a room or establishment where alcoholic drinks are served over a counter wordnet
- 3 A lounge bar in an English public house, contrasted with the public bar. British, dated
"A pint of beer in the saloon bar costs a penny more than in the public bar."
- 4 tavern consisting of a building with a bar and public rooms; often provides light meals wordnet
- 5 A car with a boot or trunk compartment separate from the driver/passenger space and with seating and doors for more than two people. British
Show 5 more definitions
- 6 a car that is closed and that has front and rear seats and two or four doors wordnet
- 7 The cabin area of a boat or yacht devoted to seated relaxation, often combined with dining table.
- 8 the part of a rail carriage or multiple unit containing seating for passengers.
- 9 Dated form of salon (“living room in a house”). alt-of, dated
- 10 A barbershop (store offering haircuts). India, Nigeria
Example
"Barsoom was the biggest Martian town. It had the fanciest saloon. It was the Wild, Wild Red."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "saloon"?
Common synonyms include: bar, barroom, pub, alehouse, automobile, bar.
How do you use "saloon" in a sentence?
Barsoom was the biggest Martian town. It had the fanciest saloon. It was the Wild, Wild Red.
How do you pronounce "saloon"?
Pronounced /səˈlun/.
Etymology
From Occitan salon, French salon, either augmentative of salle (“room”), or borrowed from Italian salone (“hall”), augmentative form of sala, salla (“room”); in both cases borrowed from a Germanic source such as Old High German sal (“house, hall”), from Proto-Germanic *salą, from Proto-Indo-European *sel- (“dwelling”). Doublet of salon.