aquifer

American  

[ak-wuh-fer] / ˈæk wə fər /

noun

• aquifers
  plural

1. any geological formation containing or conducting groundwater, especially one that supplies the water for wells, springs, etc.

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aquifer British  

/ ˈækwɪfə /

noun

1. a porous deposit of rock, such as a sandstone, containing water that can be used to supply wells

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aquifer Scientific  

/ ăk′wə-fər /

1. An underground layer of permeable rock, sediment (usually sand or gravel), or soil that yields water. The pore spaces in aquifers are filled with water and are interconnected, so that water flows through them. Sandstones, unconsolidated gravels, and porous limestones make the best aquifers. They can range from a few square kilometers to thousands of square kilometers in size.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• aquifers
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of aquifer

First recorded in 1900–05; probably from French aquifère (adjective); see aqui-, -fer

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Explanation

An aquifer is an underground water supply — one found in porous rock, sand, gravel, or the like. Your town might get its water from a lake, river, reservoir, aquifer, or some other source. Aquifer is from the Latin aqua ("water") and ferre ("to bear") — an aquifer literally bears water. Some aquifers are massive, such as the Ogallala Aquifer in the United States that stretches across parts of eight states from South Dakota to Texas. But not massive enough — we're draining them faster than the water can be replenished.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

aquifer aquifers

He envisions a massive deployment of measures that are already in use, such as ocean-water desalination and aquifer replenishment, underpinned by federal incentives for reducing consumption.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026

Residents feared the project would strain the electrical grid and drain their local aquifer.

From Salon ● Jun. 6, 2026

In Memphis, xAI had said it would build a water recycling plant that can reuse wastewater, instead of relying on the region’s aquifer, which provides drinking water for residents.

From Barron's ● Jun. 5, 2026

Meanwhile, Hull aquifer levels were at 49.4% - up from 46.6%.

From BBC ● Nov. 27, 2025

“Where does all the water come from? The Court is on a hill, so where’s the aquifer or aqueduct to bring the water up?”

From "Six of Crows" by Leigh Bardugo

Groundwater levels are also very low across the chalk aquifers of East Yorkshire.

From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2026

Hydrologists should know by February or March whether aquifers and and human-made reservoirs have been replenished.

From BBC ● Aug. 18, 2026

Furthermore, the centers’ cooling systems need a lot of water, draining local aquifers and water tables, with the more efficient systems still requiring significant amounts.

From Salon ● Jun. 12, 2026

Mining executives say the law was so broad and unclear that it prevented nearly all mining, including in areas without glaciers or with no connection to aquifers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 9, 2026

These pervious sands, interbedded with the lava, become the aquifers of artesian wells.

From The Elements of Geology by William Harmon Norton

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