briny

¹ American  

[brahy-nee] / ˈbraɪ ni /

adjective

brinier, briniest

1. of or like brine; salty.

   a briny taste.

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briny ² American  

[brahy-nee] / ˈbraɪ ni /

noun

1. ocean.

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briny British  

/ ˈbraɪnɪ /

adjective

1. of or resembling brine; salty

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noun

1. an informal name for the sea

Other Word Forms

• brininess noun

Etymology

Origin of briny¹

First recorded in 1600–10; brine + -y ¹

Origin of briny²

First recorded in 1825–35; brine + -y ²

Example Sentences

In Thessaly, where around 45 percent of the briny white cheese is made from sheep and goat's milk, the impact of the disease is already significant.

From Barron's • Mar. 30, 2026

“It’s kind of inheriting that briny character, like a martini of the sea.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 19, 2026

Oil-and-gas fields in South Texas, North Dakota and Appalachia also produce briny water but in much smaller volumes than in the Permian.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 26, 2025

For savory oats, the sky is wide open: briny feta, sharp white cheddar, a dusting of Parm for a cacio e pepe riff—each adds its own note.

From Salon • Nov. 13, 2025

“Salty, briny, fishy...I think I have it,” he said after a moment.

From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood

Related Words

• saline