groundwater

American  

[ground-waw-ter, -woter] / ˈgraʊndˌwɔ tər, -ˌwɒtər /

Also ground water

noun

groundwaters plural

1. the water beneath the surface of the ground, consisting largely of surface water that has seeped down: the source of water in springs and wells.

---

groundwater Scientific  

/ ground′wô′tər /

1. Water that collects or flows beneath the Earth's surface, filling the porous spaces in soil, sediment, and rocks. Groundwater originates from rain and from melting snow and ice and is the source of water for aquifers, springs, and wells. The upper surface of groundwater is the water table.

---

groundwater Cultural  

1. Water that seeps through the soil or rocks underground.

---

Discover More

Groundwater can be contaminated by chemical pollutants. (See water pollution.)

Groundwater is a source of drinking and spring water for many communities.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• groundwaters
  plural

Etymology

Origin of groundwater

First recorded in 1885–90; ground ¹ ( def. ) + water ( def. )

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

groundwater groundwaters

It said it suspected the pipes had leaked sewage into the ground, contaminating groundwater which then seeped into the bay.

From BBC ● Jul. 16, 2026

It is why groundwater droughts in the south of England generally take a longer time to develop but can be longer-lasting if they do occur.

From BBC ● Jul. 15, 2026

The whole periodic chart of elements and metals and all kinds of chemical concoctions found their way into the ground and the groundwater.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2026

The company Cadiz Inc. has been trying for years to pump groundwater in the Mojave Desert and ship it to thirsty cities in California.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026

Water was still being cycled through to keep the fuel cool, but groundwater also seeped into the buildings.

From "Meltdown" by Deirdre Langeland

"Natural hydrogen is produced over time through underground chemical reactions between rocks and the groundwaters in those rocks," says Sherwood Lollar.

From Science Daily ● May 20, 2026

"Rising groundwaters can lead to flooding of coastal cities, waterlogging of farmlands and salinization of groundwaters and soils."

From Salon ● Jan. 24, 2024

But to the surprise of Ruff’s team, the older, deeper groundwaters held more cells than the fresher waters did.

From Scientific American ● Aug. 22, 2023

The underground parking has been abandoned to the rising groundwaters.

From New York Times ● Apr. 7, 2022

It is, of course, not only the groundwaters that are becoming contaminated, but surface-moving waters as well — streams, rivers, irrigation waters.

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson