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

Salient – Word Of The Day For IELTS Speaking And Writing

Salient: (Adjective) /ˈseɪliənt/

Meaning & Definition

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.

Use Cases

1. 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.

2. 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.

Misspellings

Common misspellings of ‘salient’ include ‘saliant,’ ‘salinet,’ ‘sailent,’ and ‘salent.’

History of the Word

The word ‘salient’ has its origins in the Latin word ‘salire,’ meaning “to leap or jump.” The term was first used in English in the mid-17th century with its original meaning related to leaping or jumping. Over time, it evolved to its current usage as both an adjective and a noun with the connotation of standing out or being prominent.

Example

For IELTS Speaking:

“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.”

For IELTS Writing:

“Students are prone to explain undesirable features of a system in terms of its most salient characteristics.“

Exercise

Match the word below to complete these sentences.

• 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.

Answer keys

1. salubrious
2. takeaway
3. wagon
4. vulnerable
5. icebox
6. salient

Check out Vocabulary for IELTS Speaking & Writing on the IELTS Material website to improve your vocabulary for IELTS and get a high score in IELTS.

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