saltwater

1 of 2

adjective

salt·​wa·​ter ˈsȯlt-ˌwȯ-tər How to pronounce saltwater (audio)
-ˌwä-
1
: consisting of or containing salt water
saltwater lagoons
a saltwater solution
compare freshwater
2
: living in or taken from salt water
saltwater fish
saltwater pearls
3
: relating to, associated with, or suitable for salt water
a saltwater rod
saltwater tales

salt water

2 of 2

noun

variants or less commonly saltwater
1
: water to which salt (as sodium chloride) has been added
flush the wound with salt water
We think all turkeys are improved by brining (soaking in salt water), but it's a cumbersome task that few holiday schedules can accommodate.Gourmet
2
: water (as of the ocean) that naturally contains a significant amount of salt : seawater
This deck shoe uses a patented leather that's virtually immune to salt water.Michael Verdon
also : a body of salt water
We hiked on, finally reaching the island's highest point, a lookout with sweeping views far out across the salt water. Wendy Williams
compare fresh water

Examples of saltwater in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Originally thought to be saltwater animals only, recent research indicates that some plesiosaurs could live in freshwater environments (like Loch Ness). Stephen C. George, Discover Magazine, 23 Jan. 2024 Saturn’s small moon Enceladus is spraying its saltwater ocean into space. WIRED, 24 Dec. 2023 There two main saltwater catfish species that inhabit inshore waters along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts–hardhead catfish and gafftop catfish—but these fish are typically viewed as bycatch by many anglers. Outdoor Life, 30 Nov. 2023 Wildlife was plentiful — giant saltwater crocodiles, wallabies, dingoes, wild boar, and some 280 bird species live here. Drew Kluska, Travel + Leisure, 25 Nov. 2023 Opened by French Chinese sisters Claire and Valia Gontard, whose grandfather grew up on Lombok, the hotel's airy villas, clad in polished concrete and blond woods, open onto snug balconies with saltwater plunge pools and views of the surrounding countryside. Chris Schalkx, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Nov. 2023 Other contributors besides climate change can affect saltwater intrusion, such as how the river is dredged, seasonal variability, and other weather patterns such as El Niño. Isa Meyers, The Christian Science Monitor, 23 Oct. 2023 For decades, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been dredging parts of the Mississippi to accommodate ever-growing cargo ships, and the agency has long known that its efforts could make saltwater intrusions more likely. Jacey Fortin, New York Times, 15 Nov. 2023 Some key features are: Material Corrosion is a much bigger issue with saltwater fishing. Allen Foster, Chicago Tribune, 10 Aug. 2023
Noun
The artifacts, which have soaked in salt water for millennia, will likely be sent for desalination, according to the researchers. Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 6 Mar. 2024 At times, the ocean was calm, the only sound coming from salt water rhythmically slapping the sides of the small Newport Coastal Adventure inflatable boat. Laylan Connelly, Orange County Register, 25 Feb. 2024 That is good news for the lower Mississippi River area, which is facing a second-straight year of drought and dramatically low water levels — a condition that is causing salt water to taint drinking water supplies in some Louisiana communities. Scott Dance, Washington Post, 19 Oct. 2023 Agriculture in the region will likely be affected by salt water creeping upstream, particularly farmers who rely on river water for irrigation. Denise Chow, NBC News, 29 Sep. 2023 Andersen explains how diving in salt water can improve your health. Judy Koutsky, Forbes, 11 Feb. 2024 Solution: The solution that is packaged with neti pots includes an isotonic solution of salt water. Caroline Thomason, Verywell Health, 15 Dec. 2023 Other sore throat remedies include options like taking pain medications or gargling with warm salt water. Cynthia Sass, Mph, Rd, Health, 31 Oct. 2023 Watching players struggle for air and risk swallowing mouthfuls of salt water is about as intense a viewing experience as Survivor can be. Dalton Ross, EW.com, 9 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'saltwater.' 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

Adjective

1528, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of saltwater was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near saltwater

Cite this Entry

“Saltwater.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/saltwater. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

saltwater

adjective
salt·​wa·​ter ˈsȯlt-ˌwȯt-ər How to pronounce saltwater (audio)
-ˌwät-
: relating to, living in, or consisting of salt water
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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