freshwater

1 of 2

adjective

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

fresh water

2 of 2

noun

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

Examples of freshwater in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The Great Lakes are the freshwater heart of North America. —Caitlin Looby, Journal Sentinel, 16 May 2024

Recipes based on freshwater fish, like risotto with European perch, are a key part of local gastronomy. —Vittoria Traverso, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Nov. 2023

Noun

Its location, Dolan said, was caused by the Hollywood fault, which forced groundwater otherwise hidden to flow up and over a bedrock ridge, a key perennial source of fresh water. —Rong-Gong Lin Ii, Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2024

The river provides 70% of the fresh water that enters Long Island Sound. —Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 21 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing freshwater

• freshwater drum
• freshwater pearl

Kids Definition

freshwater

adjective

fresh·​wa·​ter

ˌfresh-ˌwȯt-ər,

-ˌwät-

: of, relating to, or living in fresh water

a freshwater fish