fresh·wa·ter
ˈfresh-ˈwȯ-tər 
-ˈwä-
1
a
: consisting of or containing fresh water
freshwater marshes
freshwater aquariums
compare saltwater
b
: living in or taken from fresh water
freshwater mussels/fish
freshwater pearls
c
: relating to or taking place in fresh water
freshwater diving/sailing
2
US, dated
: inland and usually provincial
a freshwater college
or less commonly freshwater
ˈfresh-ˈwȯ-tər
-ˈwä-
1
: water that is not salty
… the lake holds the largest volume of fresh water in the world, 5,000 cubic miles.—
Philip Taubman
Philip Taubman
also
: water that is considered suitable for consumption
He saw many islands, but they were flat or rocky or they lacked fresh water or their anchorage was too shallow. —John Taylor
John Taylor 2
: a body of fresh water
The hydrosphere includes oceans, fresh water, glaciers, and ice caps.—Leigh Broadhurst
compare salt water
Leigh BroadhurstExamples of freshwater in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Caitlin Looby, Journal Sentinel, 16 May 2024
Recipes based on freshwater fish, like risotto with European perch, are a key part of local gastronomy.
—Vittoria Traverso, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Nov. 2023
Heidi Blake, The New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2024
Today, the region is home to tech hubs, thriving cities, leading research universities, billions of dollars in tourism — and the 21st century’s most precious natural resource, 21% of the planet’s fresh water.
—Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press, 10 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for freshwater 
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of
Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback
about these examples.
Adjective
The Great Lakes are the freshwater heart of North America.
—Caitlin Looby, Journal Sentinel, 16 May 2024
Recipes based on freshwater fish, like risotto with European perch, are a key part of local gastronomy.
—Vittoria Traverso, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Nov. 2023
Noun
Ali Al-Ahmed, a dissident Saudi scholar who kept in touch with Sahar, sent me a photograph of an apparatus that the sisters had jerry-rigged to distill fresh water from the sea, and one of a copper hook for catching fish and crabs.
—Heidi Blake, The New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2024
Today, the region is home to tech hubs, thriving cities, leading research universities, billions of dollars in tourism — and the 21st century’s most precious natural resource, 21% of the planet’s fresh water.
—Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press, 10 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for freshwater
Dictionary Entries Near freshwater
Cite this Entry
“Freshwater.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/freshwater. Accessed 7 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share