ENGLISH
REFERENCE

brackish

adj.
C1 Advanced US //ˈbɹækɪʃ// UK //bɹˈækɪʃ// brack·ish

adj. describing water that is a mix of fresh and salt water. It is often found in places where a river meets the sea.

adj. containing a mixture of fresh and salt water. Often used to describe the water quality of estuaries or coastal lagoons.


SIMPLE

The fish in the brackish water are different from those in the ocean.

CONTEXTUAL

The local ecosystem is adapted to brackish conditions, where the salinity changes with the tides.

COMPLEX

As the river delta expands into the bay, the water becomes increasingly brackish, supporting a unique blend of freshwater and marine species that thrive in the transitional environment.

Synonyms
Origin

From Scottish brack (from Middle Dutch brac (“brackish”)) + -ish. Cognate with Dutch brak (“brackish”), German Low German brack, brakerg, brakig (“brackish”), German brackig (“brackish”), Danish brak (“brackish”), Swedish bräck (“brackish”), Norwegian brakk (“brackish”). Perhaps a distant doublet of brook.

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