meltwater

noun

melt·​wa·​ter ˈmelt-ˌwȯ-tər How to pronounce meltwater (audio)
-ˌwä-
: water derived from the melting of ice and snow

Examples of meltwater in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Soils were dry last winter, ready to soak up rather than repel meltwater. Brandon Loomis, AZCentral.com, 7 Mar. 2026 Over 14,000 years ago, the 18 sandstone canyons within the park were shaped by meltwater from glaciers. Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 4 Mar. 2026 But nighttime temperatures will drop back below freezing, creating a gradual thawing that prevents the landscape from being inundated with meltwater. Eryn Dion, The Providence Journal, 24 Feb. 2026 By mapping where iceberg meltwater is released, the tool provides data that can be fed directly into ocean and climate models. Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 6 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for meltwater

Word History

First Known Use

1923, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of meltwater was in 1923

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Cite this Entry

“Meltwater.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/meltwater. Accessed 15 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

meltwater

noun
melt·​wa·​ter ˈmelt-ˌwȯt-ər How to pronounce meltwater (audio)
-ˌwät-
: water that comes from the melting of ice and snow

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