aquatic

1 of 2

adjective

aquat·​ic ə-ˈkwä-tik  -ˈkwa- 

1

: growing or living in or frequenting water

aquatic mosquito larvae

2

: taking place in or on water

aquatic sports

aquatically

ə-ˈkwä-ti-k(ə-)lē 

-ˈkwa-

adverb

aquatic

2 of 2

noun

1

: an aquatic animal or plant

2

aquatics ə-ˈkwä-tiks 

-ˈkwa-

plural in form but singular or plural in construction : water sports

Synonyms of aquatic

Adjective

• underwater
• submarine

Examples of aquatic in a Sentence

Adjective

a lifelong fascination with sharks and other fearsome aquatic creatures

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The shift keeps players on their toes, but the vehicle transformations—which transform the karts into flying machines, and aquatic rides, depending on the map—add a new hook to the gameplay. —Richard Newby, Time, 6 Dec. 2025

No vacation to Florida is complete without memorializing it in a way that nods to the unique locale, brimming with aquatic wildlife from practically every coastal vantage point. —Joey Skladany, Southern Living, 5 Dec. 2025

Noun

Alie Morgan, the center's aquatics director, officiated the ceremony. —Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 19 Nov. 2025

Residents of 15 Hudson Yards enjoy over 40,000 square feet of amenities, including a full-floor spa, aquatics center, fitness facilities, wine storage, a golf simulator lounge, private dining suites, and the Skytop rooftop oasis that sits nearly 1,000 feet in the air. —Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 1 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

earlier, "of water," borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French, "living in water," going back to Old French aquatike "having the nature of water," borrowed from Latin aquāticus "of water, growing or living in water," from aqua "water" + -āticus, adjective suffix of appurtenance — more at island entry 1, -age

Noun

derivative of aquatic entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

1610, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

circa 1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for aquatic

• aprotic
• biotic
• chaotic
• cirrhotic
• despotic
• dichotic
• erotic
• euphotic
• exotic
• fibrotic
• hieratic
• hypnotic

Kids Definition

aquatic

1 of 2 adjective

aquat·​ic ə-ˈkwät-ik  -ˈkwat- 

1

: growing or living in or often found in water

aquatic animals

2

: performed in or on water

aquatic sports

aquatic

2 of 2 noun

: an aquatic animal or plant

Medical Definition

aquatic

adjective

aquat·​ic ə-ˈkwät-ik  -ˈkwat- 

: growing or living in or frequenting water

aquatic mosquito larvae