freshwater

adjective fresh·wa·ter \ ˈfresh-ˈwȯ-tər , -ˈwä- \

Updated on: 28 Feb 2018

Definition of freshwater

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

See freshwater defined for English-language learners

See freshwater defined for kids

Recent Examples of freshwater from the Web

The species, which lives on fish, crabs, snakes, turtles, birds and small mammals, is considered more reclusive than its more numerous freshwater cousin, the alligator, and tends to avoid people.

— david fleshler, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Crocodiles resurging as more neighborhoods receive toothy, scaly visitors," 26 Jan. 2018
Also known as Japanese rice fish, medaka are small, freshwater fish native to Japan.

— danny lewis, Smithsonian, "Fish Don’t Do So Well in Space," 16 Jan. 2017
Snow Lake contains a healthy population of lake chubsuckers - not a game fish, but one of Ohio's rarest suckers, a small, freshwater fish barely larger than a minnow -- and an indicator species only found in high-quality glacial lakes, Seidel said.

— james f. mccarty, cleveland.com, "Geauga County's Snow Lake Preserve is environmental keystone of Cuyahoga Wetlands: (photos, videos)," 6 Aug. 2017
Also known as Japanese rice fish, medaka are small, freshwater fish native to Japan.

— danny lewis, Smithsonian, "Fish Don’t Do So Well in Space," 16 Jan. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'freshwater.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of freshwater

1528

in the meaning defined at sense 1b

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fresh water

noun

Definition of fresh water

or less commonly freshwater

1 : water that is not salty

… the lake holds the largest volume of fresh water in the world, 5,000 cubic miles.
—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

2 : a body of fresh water

The hydrosphere includes oceans, fresh water, glaciers, and ice caps.
—Leigh Broadhurst

— compare salt water

First Known Use of fresh water

14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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FRESHWATER Defined for Kids

freshwater

adjective fresh·wa·ter \ ˌfresh-ˈwȯ-tər , -ˌwä- \

Definition of freshwater for Students

: relating to or living in fresh water

freshwater fish

Learn More about freshwater

See words that rhyme with freshwater Spanish Central: Translation of freshwater Nglish: Translation of freshwater for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of freshwater for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about freshwater

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freshwater

Definition of freshwater

Recent Examples of freshwater from the Web

First Known Use of freshwater

fresh water

Definition of fresh water

First Known Use of fresh water

FRESHWATER Defined for Kids

freshwater

Definition of freshwater for Students

Learn More about freshwater

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Definition of freshwater

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First Known Use of freshwater

fresh water

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First Known Use of fresh water

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freshwater

Definition of freshwater for Students

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