waterborne

adjective

wa·​ter·​borne ˈwȯ-tər-ˌbȯrn 

ˈwä-

: supported, carried, or transmitted by water

waterborne commerce

waterborne diseases

Examples of waterborne in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

As a result, sewage blockages and overflows became widespread, increasing the risk of wastewater contaminating drinking water sources and heightening the likelihood of outbreaks of diarrhea, hepatitis A and other waterborne diseases in an already vulnerable community. —Sarah Ferguson, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026

This cluster of islands hugging the South China Sea is a vast playground of stunning waterborne landscapes and dive sites. —Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Dec. 2025

This year, after a particularly rainy spring, the Schraders are grappling with an outbreak of a plant-damaging waterborne fungus called phytophthora. —Sophie Caldwell, CNBC, 28 Nov. 2025

Removes waterborne pathogens and filters pesticides, chemicals, heavy metals and microplastics and improves taste, smell and clarity. —Deanna Taylor, USA Today, 30 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1559, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for waterborne

• peppercorn
• unicorn
• winterbourne
• adorn
• airborne
• blackthorn
• broomcorn
• buckhorn
• buckthorn
• careworn
• firstborn
• foodborne

Kids Definition

waterborne

adjective

wa·​ter·​borne -ˌbōrn 

-ˌbȯrn

: supported, carried, or passed on by water

waterborne diseases

Medical Definition

waterborne

adjective

wa·​ter·​borne ˈwȯt-ər-ˌbō(ə)rn, ˈwät-, -ˌbȯ(ə)rn 

: carried or transmitted by water and especially by drinking water

waterborne diseases