fresh water

American  

noun

1. water that does not contain a large amount of salt.

2. inland water, as ponds, lakes, or streams, that is not salt.

---

Etymology

Origin of fresh water

before 900; Middle English; Old English

Example Sentences

The California city—once a poster child for drought—is producing so much fresh water with its Carlsbad ocean-desalination plant that Arizona and Nevada are pursuing deals for millions of gallons.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

Hundreds of seafarers are calling for help to get home as food and fresh water start to run low after more than a month in limbo.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026

According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, operating expenses were nearly three times higher than at other federal facilities, largely because all supplies -- including fresh water -- had to be transported to the island.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

"The ship can produce fresh water by desalinating seawater, but that becomes difficult if we are not sailing," he says.

From BBC • Mar. 12, 2026

They moved down the gravel to find fresh water and he washed his hair again as well as he could and finally stopped because the boy was moaning with the cold of it.

From "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy