waterborne

adjective

wa·​ter·​borne ˈwȯ-tər-ˌbȯrn How to pronounce waterborne (audio)
ˈwä-
: supported, carried, or transmitted by water
waterborne commerce
waterborne diseases

Examples of waterborne in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Not long ago, Malawi looked like a shining success story in the global fight against cholera, a largely waterborne bacterial disease that mostly affects low-income countries. John Eligon Joao Silva, New York Times, 22 Jan. 2023 In 1989, there were 892,055 cases of Guinea worm disease, a dreadful and debilitating waterborne parasitic infection historically endemic to Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Tony Morley, Time, 28 Dec. 2022 In other movies about waterborne characters with no need for scuba gear, most of the aquatic acting is simulated. John Jurgensen, WSJ, 8 Dec. 2022 In addition to research on mitigating waterborne diseases, like Pythium, Dickson's team conducts research related to root zone nutrient and pH management, irrigation and water quality, and evaluation of new soilless and sustainable growing media. Arkansas Online, 5 Dec. 2022 At this very moment, Nigerians are drinking, cooking with and bathing in dirty flood water amid serious concerns over waterborne diseases. Ella Nilsen, CNN, 6 Nov. 2022 A few weeks into the flooding, malaria, dengue and other waterborne diseases were rampant. Emmett Lindner, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2022 Huge lakes of stagnant water have transformed the landscape in the south, giving rise to waterborne diseases. Yashraj Sharma, NBC News, 11 Nov. 2022 Flooding can also spread waterborne organisms that cause hepatitis and diarrheal diseases, such as cholera, particularly when large numbers of people are displaced by disasters and living in areas with poor water quality for drinking or washing. Maureen Lichtveld, The Conversation, 10 Nov. 2022

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

1559, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of waterborne was in 1559

Dictionary Entries Near waterborne

Cite this Entry

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

Kids Definition

waterborne

adjective
wa·​ter·​borne -ˌbōrn How to pronounce waterborne (audio)
-ˌbȯrn
: supported, carried, or passed on by water
waterborne diseases

Medical Definition

waterborne

adjective
: carried or transmitted by water and especially by drinking water
waterborne diseases

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