Salient – Meaning, Definition, History & Exercise!- Word Of The Day For IELTS

Kasturika Samanta

4 min read

Updated On Jul 11, 2024

Meaning of Salient
Usage & Examples of Salient
Synonyms of Salient
Antonyms of Salient
History and Origin of Salient
Exercise to Master the Meaning of Salient
Answer Key
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Words like ‘salient’ are used in IELTS to add variety and depth to answers and showcase lexical resources which accounts for 25% of the total IELTS band score.

So, let’s learn how ‘salient’ can be used appropriately in its different forms and cement its understanding through some exercises.

Meaning of Salient

Salient can be used as an adjective as well as a noun. Let’s check what the meanings of salient are.

As an adjective, ‘salient’ is used to describe something that is prominent, noticeable, or stands out from its surroundings. It can refer to a significant or important feature that captures attention.
As a noun, ‘salient’ represents a piece of land or a feature that projects outward beyond its surroundings, often in the context of geography or military strategy.

Usage & Examples of Salient

Given below are some examples of how salient can be used in sentences as an adjective and a noun.

Adjective form

In a presentation, it is essential to highlight the salient points to keep the audience engaged.
The politician’s salient remarks in the debate drew widespread media coverage.
The research paper outlined the salient aspects of the study, making it easier for readers to grasp the main findings.
We need now only take note of the most salient features.
In Viennese modernism, then, the court aristocracy was, in relation to the Bürgertum, the most salient social class.
Students are prone to explain undesirable features of a system in terms of its most salient characteristics.

Noun form

The troops strategically positioned themselves at the salient of the enemy’s territory.
The river flows around a natural salient creating a picturesque landscape.
Geologists study the formation of geological salients to understand the Earth’s surface changes.

Synonyms of Salient

Insteading of repeating the same word, using synonyms of salient can emphasize your IELTS vocabulary prowess. Here are some common synonyms of salient that you can effectively use in IELTS Writing and IELTS Speaking responses.

Synonym	Example Sentences
Conspicuous	My middle school teacher used to wear conspicuous ties which attracted everyone’s attention. People need to wear bright colours in winter to make them conspicuous when it’s foggy.
Notable	There has been a notable change in Mr. Sinc after the death of his wife. The teacher observed a notable improvement in Ramen.
Noteworthy	In the last 10 years, there has been some noteworthy development in this area. It is noteworthy that the implementation of law and order can reduce crime.
Outstanding	Afforestation has some outstanding impact on our environment. According to the graph, some outstanding changes were made in the railway system in Japan.
Prominent	I noticed a prominent change in her after I met her during our reunion. Some prominent features of this trend have been mentioned in the following paragraphs.
Striking	Sristi told me some striking plans about our upcoming trip and I was left dumbfounded. The government needs to make some striking changes to make an impact.

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Antonyms of Salient

Learning the antonyms of salient boosts your word power for IELTS Speaking and Writing as well as help you to avoid wrong usage. Go ahead and learn a few!

Antonym	Example Sentences
Concealed	The thieves failed to notice the concealed camera that was kept to capture images. The architect planned the room artistically and kept a concealed wardrobe for storage.
Discreet	The government undertakes different discreet military actions for the protection of its citizens. Even though we were very discreet about our plan, our parents caught us.
Insignificant	Although there were some insignificant changes in all these years, the table shows around 40% profit at the end of the year. Riki’s manager thought the work he did was insignificant, but we knew better.
Inconspicuous	The cameraman wore inconspicuous clothing to blend into the natural surroundings. It is often considered inconspicuous and overlooked by most people.
Unimpressive	We reached the building which stood at an unimpressive height. The performance of most athletes was unimpressive due to lack of practice.

History and Origin of Salient

The word ‘salient’ has its origins in the Latin word ‘salire,’ meaning “to leap or jump.” It is a term used to describe something that stands out or is clearly visible.

The word came into being in the Middle Ages. At that time, it was used for abstract meanings related to importance. The term was first used in English in the mid-17th century with its original meaning related to military contexts like projecting part of a building. Over time, it evolved to its current usage as both an adjective and a noun with the connotation of standing out or being prominent.

Exercise to Master the Meaning of Salient

Match the word below to complete these sentences.

takeaway, vulnerable, simple, salient, depressed, trifling, salubrious, wagon, icebox, minor

The existing plant, which was none too …………………, had already attracted much comment.

I’ve asked the restaurant to bring you around a …………………

A servant hitched up a ……………… and drove her the short distance to Mount Pitt.

His victims are ……………………. women whom he can control.

Having rinsed and stowed the fishing gear in the after locker, he reached into the ………………. for a cold beer.

The most ………………….. committees, in our experience, are ones responsible for capital budgeting, strategic planning, and compensation.

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Answer Key

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salubrious

takeaway

wagon

vulnerable

icebox

Salient

When you incorporate the word ‘salient’ into your vocabulary, you will be able to illustrate the importance and prominence of features or aspects in various contexts. So, by utilizing ‘salient’ appropriately, improve your communication skills and make your expressions more vivid and impactful, potentially increasing your IELTS score. For more such words and useful phrases, check out Vocabulary for IELTS ebook.