Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 20, 2025 is salient. Salient is an adjective meaning very important or noticeable. For example, one might write down the most salient points of an article. A band's music can have salient features, such as incorporating diverse genres. Actor Zoe Saldaña is noted for her salient physicality, conveying as much through her movements as dialogue. Originally, salient described animals that leaped or sprang. The word derives from the Latin verb salire, meaning "to leap." This root is also seen in Spanish "salir" (to leave) and French "saillir" (to jut out). Today, salient is typically used figuratively. It describes elements that "leap out" at you, like prominent features of art or key arguments in an essay.