saltwater

1 of 2

adjective

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

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

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

Phrases Containing saltwater

• saltwater taffy

Kids Definition

saltwater

adjective

salt·​wa·​ter ˈsȯlt-ˌwȯt-ər 

-ˌwät-

: relating to, living in, or consisting of salt water