<!DOCTYPE html>
<head>
</head>
<body>
<select name="food">
<!-- The following line makes a placeholder -->
<option value="" disabled selected hidden>select food</option>
<option value="apple">apple</option>
<option value="melon">melon</option>
</select>
</body>// A non-CSS - no JavaScript/jQuery answer:
// add option and disable it, it will act like placeholder.
<select>
<option value="" disabled selected>Select your option</option>
<option value="optionA">optionA</option>
</select>// disabled hidden play as a role of placeholder, as select input dosn't have placeholder
<select name="monthname" required>
<option value="" selected disabled hidden>Select Month</option>
<option value="Jan">January</option>
<option value="Feb">February</option>
<option value="Mar">March</option>
<option value="Apr">April</option>
<option value="May">May</option>
<option value="Jun">June</option>
<option value="Jul">July</option>
<option value="Aug">August</option>
<option value="Sep">September</option>
<option value="Oct">October</option>
<option value="Nov">November</option>
<option value="Dec">December</option>
</select><select style='color:gray' oninput='style.color="black"'>
<option style='display:none'>
Choose an option
</option>
<option>
1
</option>
<option>
2
</option>
<option>
3
</option>
</select><option value="" selected disabled hidden>Select Here</option><option default>Select Your Beverage</option>