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
Europa is the fourth-largest of Jupiter’s moons and has a saltwater ocean under its ice shell that has twice the amount of water contained in Earth’s oceans. Jason Ma, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2024 Tuna is a species of saltwater fish that is found in all the world's oceans, including the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian. Daryl Austin, USA TODAY, 8 Oct. 2024
Noun
Follow Keathley’s instructions as follows: Create a salt water solution by dissolving a half a teaspoon of salt in one cup of cold water. Stacey Lastoe, Southern Living, 9 Oct. 2024 Moreover, salt water has crept into the lakes that feed the locks while human consumption has increased. Ken Silverstein, Forbes, 7 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for saltwater 

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

saltus

saltwater

salt water

Cite this Entry

“Saltwater.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/saltwater. Accessed 5 Nov. 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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