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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

But just 17 per cent of the regions that separate marine and freshwater fish map to actual genes. —Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 5 Apr. 2012

Quagga and Zebra Mussels are quickly becoming America’s most troublesome freshwater invasive species. —Jeff Wheelwright, Discover Magazine, 24 June 2012

The National Hurricane Center is calling for 12 to 18 inches of rainfall, with locally higher amounts possible - more than enough to cause widespread urban and freshwater flooding. —Zach Rosenthal, BostonGlobe.com, 27 Sep. 2022

Research shows that a saltwater ballast flush can go a long way in killing most freshwater tank dwellers. —jsonline.com, 2 Sep. 2021

These include freshwater inflow from the melting of the Greenland ice sheet, melting sea-ice, increasing precipitation and river run-off. —Doyle Rice, USA TODAY, 5 Aug. 2021

Luxury Airstreams in a hilly setting surrounding a freshwater pond. —Washington Post, 2 July 2021

Lake sturgeon are freshwater fish that live in North America, from the Hudson Bay through the Mississippi River drainages. —Amy Woodyatt, CNN, 7 May 2021

Ghost forests are landscapes that form when saltwater begins to flood woodland areas that contain freshwater-dependent trees. —Elizabeth Gamillo, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 Mar. 2021

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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 pearl
• freshwater drum

• freshwater pearl
• freshwater drum

Kids Definition

freshwater

adjective

fresh·​wa·​ter

ˌfresh-ˌwȯt-ər,

-ˌwät-

: of, relating to, or living in fresh water

a freshwater fish