saltwater

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

adjective

1. of or relating to salt water.
2. inhabiting salt water:

   a saltwater fish.

saltwater

/ ˈsɔːltˌwɔːtə /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or inhabiting salt water, esp the sea

   saltwater fishes

saltwater

/ sôlt′wô′tər /

1. Consisting of or living in salty water, especially seawater.

Word History and Origins

Origin of saltwater¹

First recorded in 1520–30; salt ¹ + water

Example Sentences

The huge saltwater crocodile lived in the sanctuary on an island off the coast of Queensland since being caught in Australia's Northern Territory in the 1980s.

From BBC

Its icy crust is up to 25km thick, and sloshing beneath, there could be a vast saltwater ocean.

From BBC

Scientists believe Europa has liquid water in the form of a large saltwater ocean beneath its icy crust.

From BBC

The new rules bring the NT in in line with every other state and territory in Australia - except, oddly, Victoria, which is well outside of the comfortable climate of a saltwater crocodile.

From BBC

It is thought only one in every 5,000 mussels found in Scottish rivers contains a pearl, and generally they are smaller than their saltwater counterparts.

From BBC

Related Words

• aquatic
• coastal
• deep-sea
• maritime
• naval
• seagoing