sally
8 synonyms and 3 antonyms for sally, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A sudden dash out from a defended position to attack, or a similar sudden burst of activity.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun
A sudden dash out from a defended position to attack, or a similar sudden burst of activity.
“A sudden sally from the fort took the besiegers completely by surprise.”
How to use sally
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
sally forth
a witty sally
a sally against the enemy
Etymology
From Old French saillir, "to leap out," from Latin salire, "to jump."
Full origin of sally →Frequently asked questions
What does “sally” mean?
The word “sally” means a sudden dash out from a defended position to attack, or a similar sudden burst of activity. In plain terms, to dash out suddenly, or a short outing or clever remark, depending on context.
How do you pronounce “sally”?
“Sally” is pronounced SA-lee (/ˈsæli/ in IPA).
How do you use “sally” in a sentence?
Here is “sally” used in a sentence: “The defenders made a daring sally against the besieging army under cover of darkness.”
What part of speech is “sally”?
Depending on how it is used, “sally” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “sally” come from?
The word “sally” comes from Latin. From Old French saillir, "to leap out," from Latin salire, "to jump.".
Is “sally” a common word?
“Sally” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “sally” have?
“Sally” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a sudden dash out from a defended position to attack, or a similar sudden burst of activity.
What is the difference between "sally" and "sortie"?
Both describe a sudden dash out from a defended position to attack, and in military use they overlap closely. "Sally" is the older, more general English word and can also mean a short excursion or a witty remark, while "sortie" is used more narrowly for a military operation, including modern aircraft missions.
Is "sally" meaning a witty remark formal or informal?
Used to mean a sharp, witty remark in conversation, "sally" is fairly literary and more common in writing than in everyday speech. In casual conversation, people are more likely to say "quip," "wisecrack," or "comeback."
