freshwater

or fresh-wa·ter

[ fresh-waw-ter, -wot-er ]

adjective

1. of or living in water that is fresh or not salt:

   freshwater fish.

2. accustomed to fresh water only, and not to the sea:

   a freshwater sailor.

3. small, provincial, or little known:

   a freshwater college.

4. Obsolete. untrained or of little experience.

freshwater

/ ˈfrɛʃˌwɔːtə /

noun

1. of, relating to, or living in fresh water
2. (esp of a sailor who has not sailed on the sea) unskilled or inexperienced
3. small and little known

   a freshwater school

freshwater

/ frĕsh′wô′tər /

1. Consisting of or living in water that is not salty.

Word History and Origins

Origin of freshwater¹

First recorded in 1520–30; fresh + water

Example Sentences

The hazards that plastic-associated chemicals pose to humans and environmental organisms and the impact of plastics on oceans, soils and freshwater ecosystems are also regarded as well researched.

From Science Daily

An international team of scientists using observations from NASA-German satellites found evidence that Earth's total amount of freshwater dropped abruptly starting in May 2014 and has remained low ever since.

From Science Daily

“Without containment, golden mussels are likely to spread to other freshwater bodies in California, and to other ports and inland waters of North America, and abroad.”

From Los Angeles Times

Nicole Silk, the global director of freshwater outcomes at the environmental nonprofit The Nature Conservancy, noted that these challenges are having a dire impact on people and communities.

From Salon

If that rate continues unabated, one-third of all freshwater species alive today will be extinct by 2120.

From Salon