Definition

A type of salad made from finely chopped raw cabbage, often mixed with carrots and dressed with mayonnaise or a vinaigrette.

Example

We served coleslaw as a side dish at the barbecue.

Conversation

Have you ever tried making coleslaw from scratch?

No, I usually just buy it from the store.

It's really easy! You just need some cabbage and a good dressing for the coleslaw.

That sounds simple enough; I might give it a try!

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Coleslaw originates from the Dutch word 'koolsla', where 'kool' means 'cabbage' (from Middle Dutch 'cole') and 'sla' means 'salad'. The word refers to a salad made primarily from cabbage.

Memory Tip

Think of 'kool' for cabbage and 'sla' for salad — that's how you remember that coleslaw is a salad made from cabbage.

Visually Confused Words