briny

¹ American  

[brahy-nee] / ˈbraɪ ni /

adjective

brinier, briniest

1. of or like brine; salty.

   a briny taste.

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briny ² American  

[brahy-nee] / ˈbraɪ ni /

noun

1. ocean.

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briny British  

/ ˈbraɪnɪ /

adjective

1. of or resembling brine; salty

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noun

1. an informal name for the sea

Other Word Forms

• brininess noun

Etymology

Origin of briny¹

First recorded in 1600–10; brine + -y ¹

Origin of briny²

First recorded in 1825–35; brine + -y ²

Explanation

If something is briny, it's wet and salty, like seawater. You should probably rinse out your briny swimsuit and hang it to dry in the sun. Salty ocean water is briny, and seafood often tastes a bit briny as well: "I love these briny oysters, but my brother can't stand them." Your brother may also like to keep his feet on the beach while you dive into the briny water. In the 17th century, briny was originally used to describe tears. The Old English root is bryne, "water saturated with salt."

Example Sentences

In Thessaly, where around 45 percent of the briny white cheese is made from sheep and goat's milk, the impact of the disease is already significant.

From Barron's • Mar. 30, 2026

“It’s kind of inheriting that briny character, like a martini of the sea.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 19, 2026

Oil-and-gas fields in South Texas, North Dakota and Appalachia also produce briny water but in much smaller volumes than in the Permian.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 26, 2025

But time and briny air have taken their toll.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 26, 2025

There was a brisk wind coming off the waves, cool and briny.

From "Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer

Related Words

• saline