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
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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.
The waste can also clog the aquatic vegetation where the fish would feed and breed, and contaminate the water on which they depend.
From Barron's • May 20, 2026
It supports aquatic organisms, helps sustain biodiversity, and influences important biogeochemical processes.
From Science Daily • May 17, 2026
The centre includes dipping ponds filled with aquatic life and dragonflies.
From BBC • May 8, 2026
The Appalachian springsnail is basically a tiny aquatic cow that mows over algae and other organic matter, sucking them up and extracting whatever nutrients it can.
From Slate • Apr. 27, 2026
Even by the end of the second summer after spraying, only meager quantities of aquatic insects had reestablished themselves, and on one stream — formerly rich in bottom fauna — scarcely any could be found.
From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson
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.
