brackish
Americanadjective
-
somewhat salty or briny, as the water in an estuary or salt marsh, which is not as salty as the sea but saltier than a river.
These brackish swamps are some of the state’s most important ecosystems.
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The coffee was brackish and stale.
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of brackish
First recorded in 1550–60; from Dutch brak “salty” + -ish 1 (in the sense “somewhat”)
Explanation
Something that is brackish is unpleasant and harsh, like the coffee you left on too long or the water in a muddy pond. The adjective brackish has roots in the Dutch word brac, meaning salty, and the word is used literally to describe water that is salty. You’ll often find brackish water in areas where salty seawater mixes with freshwater, such as "the brackish water of a Louisiana bayou." The word can be used more generally, however, to describe something that is distasteful and harsh, not just salty. When used in this way you’ll still most likely hear the term applied to liquids, such as a brackish tea that makes you wrinkle your nose when you taste it.
Vocabulary lists containing brackish
100 Words Every Middle Schooler Should Know
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100 SAT Words Beginning with "B"
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Something's Fishy: A Fresh Catch of Aquatic Words
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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.
"Bull sharks thrive in warm, brackish water, which most other sharks flee," she told the BBC.
From BBC ● Jan. 23, 2026
Genetic and physical analyses confirmed that the species belongs to the genus Diplolaimelloides, a group typically found in coastal marine and brackish waters.
From Science Daily ● Jan. 10, 2026
Just outside the city, it is pumping brackish groundwater from wells and discharging it into the Nueces River, which flows into a water treatment plant.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 12, 2025
The brackish, mineral flavors of the oysters are complemented perfectly by the tangy, nutty, earthy artichokes.
From Salon ● Nov. 7, 2024
Evenings, after a long day working at the Winn-Dixie, she restocked the boat’s small refrigerator, fixed dinner, and washed dishes in the brackish water of the bayou.
From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French
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.
