English Reference

Word

desalination

Phoneticsde·sali·na·tion

US/diˌseɪɫɪˈneɪʃən/

UK/dɪsˌælɪnˈeɪʃən/

Definition

n. 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.

Examples

“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.”

Examples

simple

“The city relies on desalination to provide clean drinking water.”

contextual

“As the population grows and the reservoirs shrink, the government is investing heavily in desalination plants along the coast.”

complex

“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.”

Real-World Examples

“The technology could also improve water collection in desalination and water-harvesting devices, while faster heat removal could provide better cooling for electronic equipment.”
ScienceDaily · 23 Aug 2026
“However, the research is still at an early stage, and more testing will be needed before the approach can be used in commercial batteries or large desalination systems.”
ScienceDaily · 1 Aug 2026

Etymology

From de- + salination.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry

Level
C1 · Advanced
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

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English Reference