saltwater

[sawlt-waw-ter, -wot-er]

adjective

1. of or relating to salt water.

2. inhabiting salt water.

   a saltwater fish.

saltwater

/ ˈsɔːltˌwɔːtə /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or inhabiting salt water, esp the sea

   saltwater fishes

saltwater

1. Consisting of or living in salty water, especially seawater.

Word History and Origins

Origin of saltwater¹

First recorded in 1520–30; salt ¹ + water

Example Sentences

The long-term goal is to provide a reliable source of drinking water for communities that lack both freshwater and saltwater supplies.

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Australia's modern freshwater and saltwater crocodiles only appeared far later, roughly 3.8 million years ago.

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In most saltwater species, vibrations reach the inner ear only weakly, which limits hearing to low frequencies below about 200 Hertz.

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It was not clear whether the scaly hotel gatecrasher was a saltwater crocodile or its less dangerous freshwater cousin.

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More than 100,000 saltwater and less aggressive freshwater crocodiles are estimated to be living across northern Australia.

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Related Words

• aquatic 
• coastal 
• deep-sea 
• maritime 
• naval 
• seagoing