saltwater

1 of 2

adjective

salt·​wa·​ter ˈsȯlt-ˌwȯ-tər 

-ˌwä-

1

: consisting of or containing salt water

saltwater lagoons

a saltwater solution

compare freshwater

2

: living in or taken from salt water

saltwater fish

saltwater pearls

3

: relating to, associated with, or suitable for salt water

a saltwater rod

saltwater tales

salt water

2 of 2

noun

variants or less commonly saltwater

1

: water to which salt (as sodium chloride) has been added

flush the wound with salt water

We think all turkeys are improved by brining (soaking in salt water), but it's a cumbersome task that few holiday schedules can accommodate.

—Gourmet

2

: water (as of the ocean) that naturally contains a significant amount of salt : seawater

This deck shoe uses a patented leather that's virtually immune to salt water.

—Michael Verdon

also : a body of salt water

We hiked on, finally reaching the island's highest point, a lookout with sweeping views far out across the salt water.

—Wendy Williams

compare fresh water

Examples of saltwater in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

One hypothesis suggested that early alligators were saltwater tolerant and then later lost the trait. —Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 23 Apr. 2025

Fluoride also is found naturally in some groundwater, some plants, and crops such as spinach, tea leaves, some grains, saltwater fish and shellfish, says Sandip Sachar, DDS, a Manhattan dentist at Sachar Dental and committee member of the New York Dental Society. —Sherri Gordon, Clc, Parents, 11 Apr. 2025

Noun

That assessment boils down to one key trait: Deinosuchus had special glands and a tolerance for salt water, according to the study. —Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 26 Apr. 2025

Plants and other elements that will hold up well in local conditions are more eco-friendly than those that will suffer from factors like heat, salt water or excessive moisture. —Jamie Gold, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1528, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing saltwater

• saltwater taffy

Rhymes for saltwater

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

Kids Definition

saltwater

adjective

salt·​wa·​ter ˈsȯlt-ˌwȯt-ər 

-ˌwät-

: relating to, living in, or consisting of salt water