saltwater taffy

noun

variants or salt water taffy

: taffy that is made in various colors and flavors and is usually sold in small, individually-wrapped pieces

Where better can the vacationing population of the Cape go to sightsee a human kaleidoscope, to keep kids entertained, to buy saltwater taffy and a Cape Cod sweatshirt, to have a good time and a good meal?—

Charles N. Barnard

Note: Saltwater taffy is typically associated with seaside tourist areas. It may have salt as an ingredient, but it does not contain seawater.

Examples of saltwater taffy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web It was bottled at 101 proof, and the official tasting notes describe root beer, vanilla bean, hazelnut, saltwater taffy, and chocolate on the palate, with a creamy almond butter-like mouthfeel. —

Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 2 Aug. 2024 Wander through shops and art galleries downtown and pop into a candy shop for saltwater taffy made on-site. —

Molly Allen, Travel + Leisure, 21 July 2024 The seaside resort town of Ocean City offers fun for the whole family—stroll down the boardwalk and taste the saltwater taffy to start, then take your pick of activities for all ages: surfing, fishing, and kayaking included. —

Alex Erdekian, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Apr. 2024 The loser has to buy the winner some signature Seaside saltwater taffy. —

Molly O'Brien, Travel + Leisure, 6 Jan. 2024 Today, Elkhorn Avenue—the town’s main street—is a bumper-to-bumper stretch of T-shirt and souvenir stores, interspersed with saltwater taffy and ice cream shops, restaurants, and bars. —

Laura Kiniry, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Sep. 2023 It’s bottled at 101 proof and official tasting notes describe root beer, vanilla bean, hazelnut, saltwater taffy, and chocolate gems on the palate. —

Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 2 Aug. 2023 Bring some saltwater taffy to the beach, too — some of the best can be bought at Marini’s Candies, found right on the boardwalk. —

Chelsee Lowe, Travel + Leisure, 27 Apr. 2023 Wax lips, gummy sharks, and saltwater taffy rule at last. —

Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 14 July 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'saltwater taffy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1894, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of saltwater taffy was in 1894

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Saltwater taffy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/saltwater%20taffy. Accessed 18 Aug. 2024.

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