saline

1 of 2

adjective

sa·​line ˈsā-ˌlēn  -ˌlīn 

1

: consisting of or containing salt

a saline solution

2

: of, relating to, or resembling salt : salty

a saline taste

3

: consisting of or relating to the salts of the alkali metals or of magnesium

a saline cathartic

salinity

sā-ˈli-nə-tē 

sə-

noun

saline

2 of 2

noun

1

: a metallic salt

especially : a salt of potassium, sodium, or magnesium with a cathartic action

2

: a saline solution

especially : one isosmotic with body fluids

Synonyms of saline

Adjective

• salt

Examples of saline in a Sentence

Adjective

tears are saline

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

For kids, saline nasal rinses and sprays are a gentler starting point recommended by Johns Hopkins pediatric physicians before moving to antihistamines. —Allison Palmer, Sacbee.com, 22 Apr. 2026

With pollen seasons growing longer and more intense each year, starting medications earlier, reducing indoor allergen exposure and using tools like saline rinses and steam can meaningfully reduce how hard this season hits. —Allison Palmer, Kansas City Star, 21 Apr. 2026

Noun

The issue landed in front of Trump because someone in his inner circle gave him a nudge, which led to a meeting and the chance to do something no country has ever accomplished – the successful restoration of a terminal saline lake. —Saige Miller, NPR, 24 Apr. 2026

Future research could explore how drinking saline water influences cardiovascular disease risk and what salinity levels are harmful to health. —Rajiv Chowdhury, The Conversation, 15 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Anglo-French salin, from Latin salinus, from sal salt — more at salt

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1662, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing saline

• hyper-saline
• physiological saline

Rhymes for saline

• agin
• alkene
• allene
• ameen
• amin
• amine
• arene
• athene
• baleen
• beeline
• benzene
• between

Kids Definition

saline

adjective

sa·​line

ˈsā-ˌlēn, 

-ˌlīn

1

: consisting of or containing salt

a saline solution

2

: of, relating to, or resembling salt

salinity

sā-ˈlin-ət-ē, 

sə-

noun

Medical Definition

saline

1 of 2 adjective

sa·​line ˈsā-ˌlēn  -ˌlīn 

1

: consisting of or containing salt

a saline solution

2

: of, relating to, or resembling salt : salty

a saline taste

3

: consisting of or relating to the salts especially of lithium, sodium, potassium, and magnesium

a saline cathartic

4

: relating to or being abortion induced by the injection of a highly concentrated saline solution into the amniotic sac

saline amniocentesis

saline

2 of 2 noun

1

a

: a metallic salt

especially : a salt of potassium, sodium, or magnesium with a cathartic action

b

: an aqueous solution of one or more such salts

2

: a saline solution used in physiology

especially : physiological saline