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Synonyms

tap water

American  

noun

  1. water, obtained directly from a faucet or tap, that has not been purified, distilled, or otherwise treated.


tap water British  

noun

  1. water drawn off through taps from pipes in a house, as distinguished from distilled water, mineral water, etc

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of tap water

First recorded in 1880–85


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

These brands have benefited from higher scrutiny of tap water.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026

Like most inhabitants of the village of Szada, 25 kilometres northwest of Budapest, their home has been without tap water for almost two days.

From Barron's ● Jun. 30, 2026

Current tests show that tap water in Boyle Heights is safe.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 29, 2026

Thousands of properties are still facing disruption to their tap water after days of supply problems.

From BBC ● May 31, 2026

Her mom stood at the sink, filling a glass with tap water.

From "The Parker Inheritance" by Varian Johnson

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