Fruitsalad is a dish consisting of various kinds of fruit, sometimes served in a liquid, either their juices or a syrup. In different forms, fruitsalad can be served as an appetizer or a side as a salad. When served as an appetizer, a fruitsalad is sometimes known as a fruitcocktail (often connoting a canned product), or fruit cup (when served in a small container).
There are many types of fruitsalad, ranging from the basic (no nuts, marshmallows, or dressing) to the moderately sweet (Waldorf salad) to the sweet (ambrosia salad). Another "salad" containing fruit is a jello salad, with its many variations. A fruitcocktail is well-defined in the US to mean a well-distributed mixture of small diced pieces of (from highest percentage to lowest) peaches, pears, pineapple, grapes, and cherry halves. Fruitsalad may also be canned (with larger pieces of fruit than a cocktail).
