1. Relating to what is obvious, very important, or relevant: As a reporter, Bill always strived to stay with the salient or most significant facts regarding whatever he was writing about.

Mary and the group working on the project presented a plan that had several obvious or salient flaws or wrong ideas.

Jim, the politician, tends to be very verbose, so the newspaper reporter is trying to take notes only on the most salient or worthwhile contents of his vociferous or loud exclamations.

2. Descriptive of that which extends out from a surface: The salient bump on the road was caused by the roots of the tree growing next to it.
3. A reference to an angle that projects out from a polygon: In geometry, the salient angles were pointing outwardly less than 180°.
4. Characteristic of something that is projecting or jutting beyond a line or surface; protruding in an outward direction: The tourists, Becky and Brenda, stood on the salient cliff overlooking the ocean so they could see the whales below.
5. In heraldry, represented as a leaping animal: The shield presented a salient image of a lion as if it were jumping into the air.
6. Pertaining to a part of a military front line, or fortification, that projects outward into enemy-held territory or toward the enemy: The military placed a unit of soldiers on the nearest salient point so they would have an advantage in defending themselves.
7. Etymology: "leaping" a heraldic term, from Latin salientem, saliens a form of salire, "to leap." © ALL rights are reserved.
© ALL rights are reserved.

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