The salient points or facts of a situation are the most important ones.
[formal]
He read the salient facts quickly.
Chronic fatigue is also one of the salient features of depression.
Synonyms: prominent, outstanding, important, marked More Synonyms of salient
salienceuncountable noun
...the salience of social reforms.
2. countable noun [usually singular]
A salient is a narrow area where an army has pushed its front line forward into enemy territory.
[military]
The soldiers had to remain in a deathtrap salient for most of the rest of the war.
salient in British English
(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 (sense 1)
3. geometry
(of an angle) pointing outwards from a polygon and hence less than 180°
Compare re-entrant (sense 2)
4.
(esp of animals) leaping
noun
5. military
a projection of the forward line into enemy-held territory
6.
a salient angle
Derived forms
salience (ˈsalience) or saliency (ˈsaliency)
noun
saliently (ˈsaliently)
adverb
Word origin
C16: from Latin salīre to leap
salient in American English
(ˈseɪljənt; ˈseɪliənt)
adjective
1.
a.
leaping, jumping, or capering
b.
gushing or jetting forth
2.
pointing outward; jutting or projecting, as an angle
3.
standing out from the rest; noticeable; conspicuous; prominent
4.
most important or notable
noun
5.
the part of a battle line, trench, fort, etc. which projects farthest toward the enemy
6.
a salient angle, part, etc.
Derived forms
salience (ˈsalience)
noun or ˈsaliencyWord forms: pluralˈsaliencies
saliently (ˈsaliently)
adverb
Word origin
L saliens, prp. of salire, to leap < IE base *sel-, to jump > Gr halma, a leap
Examples of 'salient' in a sentence
salient
The salient point is that increasingly these are the clothes that we want to wear.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Although why you would be there in the first place is a salient question.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
There are a number of salient features in my turtle picture.
Christianity Today (2000)
This last point seems the salient one.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The most salient features of all these enterprises are discipline and diversity.
Dyson, Freeman Infinite in All Directions (1989)
And that is why it is also a salient one.
The Times Literary Supplement (2014)
One of the most salient features of the job is anonymity.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
And if there is one salient theme to unite them it is emigration.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
What has changed is not the amount of abuse but the fact that abuse is now a salient social problem.
Walklate, Sandra Victimology - the victim and the criminal justice process (1989)
This explains why the phenomenon of abuse on Twitter has become so salient.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
As a mini public service, here are the salient points.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Yet the salient point is that we don't really know anything of the lives of those sitting there.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The salient feature in all cases had to be that the first action between the same parties were begun within the primary three-year period.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
That, of course, is the salient issue.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
They are, in all but one salient way, blameless trousers.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
For many people the salient question is not'How do I pursue my dream?
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Our Allies have prudently contented themselves with fighting stubborn rearguard actions, but have made no attempt to cling too long to a salient which had become dangerous.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
In other languages
salient
British English: salient ADJECTIVE
The salient points or facts of a situation are the most important ones.
He read the salient facts quickly.
American English: salient
Brazilian Portuguese: saliente
Chinese: 最重要的
European Spanish: relevante
French: saillant
German: hervorstechend
Italian: saliente
Japanese: 最重要な
Korean: 핵심적인
European Portuguese: saliente
Latin American Spanish: relevante
(adjective)
Definition
(of points or facts) most important
She read the salient facts quickly.
Synonyms
prominent
the lighthouses that are still a prominent feature of the Scottish coast
outstanding
an area of outstanding natural beauty
important
an important figure in the media world
marked
There has been a marked increase in crimes against property.
striking
She was a striking woman with long blonde hair.
arresting
signal
remarkable
He was a remarkable man.
pronounced
Most of the exhibition has a pronounced Scottish theme.
noticeable
These changes have had no noticeable effect on productivity.
conspicuous
Additional synonyms
in the sense of arresting
Definition
attracting attention
Synonyms
striking,
surprising,
engaging,
dramatic,
stunning (informal),
impressive,
extraordinary,
outstanding,
remarkable,
noticeable,
conspicuous,
salient,
jaw-dropping,
gee-whizz (slang)
in the sense of important
Definition
of social significance
an important figure in the media world
Synonyms
powerful,
leading,
prominent,
commanding,
supreme,
outstanding,
high-level,
dominant,
influential,
notable,
big-time (informal),
foremost,
eminent,
high-ranking,
authoritative,
major league (informal),
of note,
noteworthy,
pre-eminent,
skookum (Canadian)
in the sense of marked
Definition
obvious or noticeable
There has been a marked increase in crimes against property.
Synonyms
noticeable,
clear,
decided,
striking,
noted,
obvious,
signal,
dramatic,
considerable,
outstanding,
remarkable,
apparent,
prominent,
patent,
evident,
distinct,
pronounced,
notable,
manifest,
blatant,
conspicuous,
salient
Nearby words of
salient
salacious
salary
sale
salient
saliva
sallow
sally
Synonyms of 'salient'
salient
Explore 'salient' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of noticeable
Definition
easily seen or detected
These changes have had no noticeable effect on productivity.
Synonyms
obvious,
clear,
striking,
plain,
bold,
evident,
distinct,
manifest,
conspicuous,
unmistakable,
salient,
observable,
perceptible,
appreciable,
blatant
in the sense of outstanding
Definition
very obvious or important
an area of outstanding natural beauty
Synonyms
conspicuous,
marked,
striking,
arresting,
signal,
remarkable,
memorable,
notable,
eye-catching,
salient,
noteworthy
in the sense of pronounced
Definition
very noticeable
Most of the exhibition has a pronounced Scottish theme.