desalinate

American  

[dee-sal-uh-neyt] / diˈsæl əˌneɪt /

verb (used with object)

desalinated, desalinating

1. desalt.

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desalinate British  

/ diːˈsælɪˌneɪt /

verb

1. Also: desalt.  (tr) to remove the salt from (esp from sea water)

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Other Word Forms

• desalination noun
• desalinator noun

Etymology

Origin of desalinate

First recorded in 1945–50; de- + saline + -ate ¹

Explanation

To desalinate something is to remove all the salt from it. It's possible to desalinate ocean water in order to make it drinkable. Scientists have figured out how to desalinate seawater, making it much more useful to humans. Once you strip away the salt and other minerals that make it undrinkable, the water can be used for both drinking and irrigating crops, which can save the lives of people experiencing droughts. It's also sometimes necessary to desalinate soil so that plants can grow in it. Desalinate comes from de-, "undo," and saline, "made of salt."

Example Sentences

It can even desalinate water quickly, which means ocean water could potentially be used to fight a blaze like the Palisades fire in the future.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 10, 2025

While desalination facilities are abundant in countries like Israel, Australia, and Saudi Arabia where water scarcity is acute, the energy required to desalinate water at scale presents a significant environmental hurdle.

From Science Daily • Nov. 18, 2024

India is among many countries that have built huge plants to desalinate sea water.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 20, 2023

There are currently two techniques used to desalinate seawater - thermal and membrane.

From BBC • Nov. 5, 2023

A few entrepreneurs are selling water that they desalinate using small reverse osmosis systems in their homes, but that ends up dumping salty slime into nearby ponds.

From New York Times • Jun. 25, 2023