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saltwater

American  
[sawlt-waw-ter, -wot-er] / ˈsɔltˈwɔ tər, -ˈwɒt ər /

adjective

  1. of or relating to salt water.

  2. inhabiting salt water.

    a saltwater fish.


saltwater British  
/ ˈsɔːltˌwɔːtə /

adjective

  1. of, relating to, or inhabiting salt water, esp the sea

    saltwater fishes

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

saltwater Scientific  
/ sôltwô′tər /
  1. Consisting of or living in salty water, especially seawater.


Etymology

Origin of saltwater

First recorded in 1520–30; salt 1 + water

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.

Saltwater is beginning to contaminate farmland reclaimed over the past five centuries from the delta marshes.

From Barron's • Jun. 27, 2026

Saltwater Bakery – It was raining the day the Royal Princess docked in Prince Rupert, Canada — a small port town with a population of just over 12,000.

From Salon • Jul. 20, 2025

The artists “performing” the covers—the Highway Outlaws, Waterfront Wranglers, Saltwater Saddles—all fit a certain pattern, with monthly listeners in the hundreds of thousands, zero social media footprint, and some very ChatGPT-sounding bios.

From Slate • Aug. 26, 2024

"Saltwater comes only once or twice a week. For drinking water, we currently rely on wells and water desalination using solar power," Ahmed said.

From BBC • Nov. 21, 2023

Saltwater boils on their faces were breaking open and dripping across the dead-white rings of frostbite.

From "Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World" by Jennifer Armstrong

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