aquatic
Americanadjective
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of, in, or pertaining to water.
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living or growing in water.
aquatic plant life.
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taking place or practiced on or in water.
aquatic sports.
noun
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an aquatic plant or animal.
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aquatics, sports practiced on or in water.
adjective
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growing, living, or found in water
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sport performed in or on water
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of aquatic
1480–90; < Latin aquāticus, equivalent to aqu ( a ) water + -āticus ( see -ate 1, -ic); replacing late Middle English aquatyque < Middle French < Latin, as above
Explanation
If it has to do with water, it's aquatic. If you prefer your volleyball net in a pool, it sounds like you're into aquatic sports. The word aquatic comes from the Latin word aqua, which means water. The adjective also describes something that takes place in water. If you are on a swimming or diving team, you can say you are into aquatic sports, which may take place at an aquatic center. If you visit an aquatic garden, you'll see plants that thrive in water like water lilies and lotus flowers.
Vocabulary lists containing aquatic
Something's Fishy: A Fresh Catch of Aquatic Words
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Elements of the Universe: Aqua ("Water")
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Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Wildlife experts from the German Oceanographic Museum and the Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research said the whale was severely injured with visible skin detachments.
From BBC • Apr. 16, 2026
Yu burst onto the world scene in Singapore by becoming the youngest swimmer in history to win a medal at the World Aquatic Championships, taking bronze as part of China's 4x200m freestyle relay team.
From Barron's • Nov. 12, 2025
She can swim at Aquatic Park, hike in the Marin Headlands and take advantage of the many events taking place around the city, she tells them.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 20, 2025
Dr. Andrew Hosie, Curator of Aquatic Zoology at the Western Australian Museum, participated in describing this newly identified crab species.
From Science Daily • Oct. 8, 2025
Aquatic insects are taken by the help of a net like that used for insects of the air, but whose bag should be of canvass instead of cloth.
From Movement of the International Literary Exchanges, between France and North America from January 1845 to May, 1846 With Instructions for Collecting, Preparing, and Forwarding Objects of Natural History Written by The Professors Administrators of The Museum Of Natural History At Paris. And Instructions Relative to Anthropology and Zoology by Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, Isidore
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
