salt·wa·ter
ˈsȯlt-ˌwȯ-tər 
-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
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
Gourmet2
: 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
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
Wendy Williams Examples of saltwater in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the WebAlyssa Edwards, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
Shedd Aquarium, Illinois Chicago's famed Shedd Aquarium welcomes budding marine biologists who are eager to see beluga whales, stingrays, saltwater fish, dolphins, and sea lions.
—Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 1 Apr. 2024
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
Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 1 Apr. 2024
This was a hardy tree, unafraid of a little salt water.
—Zoë Schlanger, The Atlantic, 28 Mar. 2024
In an effort to increase the amount of salt water in the wetlands, boreholes were drilled to access subterranean salt water and bring it to the surface.
—Bianca Nogrady, WIRED, 19 Mar. 2024
Draining groundwater can also cause land to subside and allow salt water to intrude farther inland, ruining agricultural land for farmers today and for food production in the future.
—Joyeeta Gupta, Scientific American, 20 Feb. 2024
Then, goes in salt water and bacteria, like Lactobacillus.
—Sam Stone, Bon Appétit, 26 Mar. 2024
Over four decades, the group has bred dozens of native rice varieties to be more resistant to drought, salt water, pests, and disease.
—Cameron Pugh, The Christian Science Monitor, 21 Mar. 2024
This can force salt water, or brine, into freshwater creating land unsuitable for farming, Olson said.
—Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 1 Feb. 2024
Hair that’s been exposed to dry air, heat tools or salt water can also benefit.
—Caitie Kelly, New York Times, 29 Jan. 2024
Adjective
The Omega-3s are sourced from saltwater fish like pollock, salmon, and more.
—Alyssa Edwards, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
Shedd Aquarium, Illinois Chicago's famed Shedd Aquarium welcomes budding marine biologists who are eager to see beluga whales, stingrays, saltwater fish, dolphins, and sea lions.
—Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 1 Apr. 2024
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
Noun
Start your day by hanging out with the southern sea otters and seahorses, then expand your horizons at the Gulf of Mexico tank, which is 17 feet deep, filled with 400,000 gallons of salt water, and home to stingrays, sharks, sea turtles, and more.
—Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 1 Apr. 2024
This was a hardy tree, unafraid of a little salt water.
—Zoë Schlanger, The Atlantic, 28 Mar. 2024
In an effort to increase the amount of salt water in the wetlands, boreholes were drilled to access subterranean salt water and bring it to the surface.
—Bianca Nogrady, WIRED, 19 Mar. 2024
Draining groundwater can also cause land to subside and allow salt water to intrude farther inland, ruining agricultural land for farmers today and for food production in the future.
—Joyeeta Gupta, Scientific American, 20 Feb. 2024
Then, goes in salt water and bacteria, like Lactobacillus.
—Sam Stone, Bon Appétit, 26 Mar. 2024
Over four decades, the group has bred dozens of native rice varieties to be more resistant to drought, salt water, pests, and disease.
—Cameron Pugh, The Christian Science Monitor, 21 Mar. 2024
This can force salt water, or brine, into freshwater creating land unsuitable for farming, Olson said.
—Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 1 Feb. 2024
Hair that’s been exposed to dry air, heat tools or salt water can also benefit.
—Caitie Kelly, New York Times, 29 Jan. 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.
Dictionary Entries Near saltwater
Cite this Entry
“Saltwater.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/saltwater. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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saltwater
adjective
salt·wa·ter
ˈsȯlt-ˌwȯt-ər
-ˌwät-
: relating to, living in, or consisting of salt water
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