desalination

American  

[dee-sal-uh nay-shuhn] / diˌsæl ə ˈneɪ ʃən /

noun

1. Chemistry. the intentional removal of salt from something, especially seawater, by any of various means, often reverse osmosis.

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desalination British  

/ diːˌsælɪˈneɪʃən /

noun

1. the process of removing salt, esp from sea water so that it can be used for drinking or irrigation

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Other Word Forms

• desalinator
  noun

Explanation

When salt and other minerals are removed from soil or water, it's called desalination. Desalination can make sea water safe to drink. The term desalination adds the prefix de-, "undo," to salination, "adding salt." The salty heart of the word is saline, "containing or made of salt." The complex process of water desalination involves using electricity or extreme heat, and it's very expensive. Still, many people around the world depend on desalination of ocean water for drinking and watering crops.