groundwater

noun

ground·​wa·​ter ˈgrau̇nd-ˌwȯ-tər 

-ˌwä-

: water within the earth especially that supplies wells and springs

Examples of groundwater in a Sentence

There were concerns about contaminated groundwater.

Recent Examples on the Web

The tree removal slowly upset the stability of the soil and the groundwater, eventually leading to the flooding that washed out the Harpers’ driveway, according to the family. —Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 5 Apr. 2026

Chemicals such as arsenic and sulfur can leak into groundwater from deep wells, overpumping can cause water scarcity, and improper drilling can harm water quality. —Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026

In some Pacific Island nations, where rising seas have contaminated groundwater with salt, desalination is becoming an increasingly important source of freshwater. —ABC News, 1 Apr. 2026

Electric utilities used to dump the ash — which contains heavy metals like arsenic and mercury — into unlined ponds, allowing the waste to seep into groundwater or nearby waterways and eventually make its way into drinking water. —Kristi Swartz, AJC.com, 1 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1889, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for groundwater

• backwater
• bathwater
• blackwater
• breakwater
• deepwater
• edgewater
• feedwater
• floodwater
• freshwater
• granddaughter
• headwater
• manslaughter

Kids Definition

groundwater

noun

ground·​wa·​ter ˈgrau̇n-ˌdwȯt-ər 

-ˌdwät-

: water within the earth that supplies wells and springs