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

There is no comprehensive survey of the aquatic insects living in the reemerging canyons, and studies from before Glen Canyon Dam are haphazard, Washko said. —Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 7 June 2026

The enveloping freshness is impossible to resist, and the aquatic elements smell clean and realistic. —Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 6 June 2026

Noun

Donovan also oversaw 33 Big West Championships and $28 million in capital improvements that included new facilities for baseball, basketball and aquatics, along with major upgrades for the track and field, tennis and softball programs. —Brian Robin, Oc Register, 8 June 2026

The chemical is commonly used in aquatics to sanitize by killing harmful bacteria, viruses, and parasites, and typically dissolves in water. —Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 3 June 2026

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
• demotic
• despotic
• dichotic
• erotic
• euphotic
• exotic
• fibrotic
• hieratic

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