desalination
n. uncountablen. the process of removing salt from seawater to make it safe to drink. This is a common way to get fresh water in places where there is very little rain.
n. the process of removing dissolved salts and other minerals from seawater or brackish water to produce fresh water. Often used in arid regions to supplement limited freshwater supplies.
The city relies on desalination to provide clean drinking water.
As the population grows and the reservoirs shrink, the government is investing heavily in desalination plants along the coast.
While desalination provides a reliable source of potable water, the high energy consumption and environmental impact of the process remain significant challenges for sustainable urban planning in coastal deserts.
From de- + salination.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Last updated May 26, 2026