salinity

[suh-lin-i-tee]

noun

1. the quality or condition of being salty; saltiness.

   Ocean currents are driven by differences in the temperature and salinity of the water.

2. a measurement of the amount of salt in a given solution.

   Adding fresh water to a marsh lowers salinity.

Other Word Forms

• hypersalinity noun
• nonsalinity noun
• subsalinity noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of salinity¹

salin(e) ( def. ) + -ity ( def. )

Example Sentences

However, evaporation and poor seawater circulation increased salinity, causing the extinction of marine life between 15 and 6 million years ago.

From Science Daily

A state hearing will provide an opportunity to examine the science on the lake’s condition, including its salinity, brine shrimp and bird populations, Perez said.

From Los Angeles Times

Tidewater gobies are a hardy fish, able to withstand extreme temperature and salinity changes.

From Los Angeles Times

For this report, scientists looked at two different projections for sea temperatures, salinity and sediment levels until 2060.

From BBC

The porous, sweet bite of melon, the crumbly salinity of feta, the flaky salt crystals, the mint, the balsamic—it was revelatory.

From Salon