fresh·wa·ter
ˈfresh-ˈwȯ-tər 
-ˈwä-
1
a
: consisting of or containing fresh water
freshwater marshes
freshwater aquariums
compare saltwater
b
: living in or taken from fresh water
freshwater mussels/fish
freshwater pearls
c
: relating to or taking place in fresh water
freshwater diving/sailing
2
US, dated
: inland and usually provincial
a freshwater college
variants
or less commonly freshwater
ˈfresh-ˈwȯ-tər
-ˈwä-
1
: water that is not salty
… the lake holds the largest volume of fresh water in the world, 5,000 cubic miles.—
Philip Taubman
Philip Taubman
also
: water that is considered suitable for consumption
He saw many islands, but they were flat or rocky or they lacked fresh water or their anchorage was too shallow. —John Taylor
John Taylor 2
: a body of fresh water
The hydrosphere includes oceans, fresh water, glaciers, and ice caps.—Leigh Broadhurst
compare salt water
Leigh BroadhurstExamples of freshwater in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Reeti Malhotra,
Sacbee.com,
4 July 2026
The beavers’ work has also created a mosaic of different habitats, encouraging other animals to flock to the site, including birds, butterflies, bats and even freshwater shrimp and fish.
—
Laura Paddison,
CNN Money,
18 June 2026
Jack Perry,
The Providence Journal,
3 July 2026
The Tequesta also had smaller, more permanent settlements in many places that provided access to fresh water or the bay, including the Little River in present-day El Portal, at what is now Arch Creek Park in North Miami, and in Surfside.
—
Andres Viglucci,
Miami Herald,
30 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for freshwater
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Adjective
The golden mussel, a freshwater mollusk native to Southeast Asia, was first detected in North America in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta in October 2024.
—
Reeti Malhotra,
Sacbee.com,
4 July 2026
The beavers’ work has also created a mosaic of different habitats, encouraging other animals to flock to the site, including birds, butterflies, bats and even freshwater shrimp and fish.
—
Laura Paddison,
CNN Money,
18 June 2026
Noun
Concerns about the supply of fresh water are growing as Governor Dan McKee declared a drought watch on Wednesday and outdoor water use has been banned in some communities.
—
Jack Perry,
The Providence Journal,
3 July 2026
The Tequesta also had smaller, more permanent settlements in many places that provided access to fresh water or the bay, including the Little River in present-day El Portal, at what is now Arch Creek Park in North Miami, and in Surfside.
—
Andres Viglucci,
Miami Herald,
30 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for freshwater
Cite this Entry
“Freshwater.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/freshwater. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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