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Definition of coleslaw

coleslaw

/ˈkoʊl.slɔː/
cole · slaw
Plural:coleslaws
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coleslaw Lexical Profile

coleslaw Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A side dish or salad consisting primarily of finely shredded raw cabbage mixed with a dressing, typically either mayonnaise or vinaigrette.

Example

"We served grilled burgers and a large bowl of homemade coleslaw at the summer barbecue."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for coleslaw

• Nearby Words

colcannon
colchicum
coleonyx
coleslaw
coleus
coley
colfox

Word Origin & Etymology

Derived from the Dutch word 'koolsla' in the late 18th century, combining 'kool' (cabbage) and 'sla' (salad). It is often mistakenly referred to as 'cold slaw' due to phonetic similarity and the dish's serving temperature.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Coleslaw. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 15, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/coleslaw
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