# saltwater

/ˌsɔɫtˈwɑtɝ/ (US) · /sˈɒltwɔːtɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/saltwater
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. containing salt

adjective · CEFR B1

containing salt, or relating to the water in the sea and ocean.

For teachers: consisting of or containing salt; specifically relating to the saline water of the oceans.

- The children enjoyed swimming in the saltwater pool at the hotel.
- The coastal ecosystem is highly sensitive to changes in saltwater concentration caused by seasonal flooding from nearby rivers.

### 2. living in the sea

adjective · CEFR B1

living in or coming from the sea rather than rivers or lakes.

For teachers: inhabiting or originating from a saline environment.

- Saltwater crocodiles are much larger and more dangerous than other types.
- The aquarium features a massive saltwater tank designed to mimic the biodiversity of a tropical coral reef.

### 3. ocean water

noun · CEFR B1

water that has salt in it, especially from the ocean.

For teachers: water containing a high concentration of salt, typically from a sea or ocean.

- After a day at the beach, his skin felt tight from the saltwater.
- The engineers developed a new desalination process to convert saltwater into drinkable water for the island community.

### 4. economic theory

adjective · CEFR C2 · Academic · American English · Technical

a specific type of economic theory from certain American universities.

For teachers: relating to a school of macroeconomic thought, typically Keynesian, associated with coastal U.S. universities.

- The professor explained the differences between saltwater and freshwater economic models.
- Saltwater economists generally advocate for active government intervention to manage economic cycles, contrasting with the more laissez-faire freshwater school.

## Examples

- Sharks are saltwater fish.
- The coastal town struggled to maintain its infrastructure because the saltwater air caused metal pipes to rust quickly.
- Biologists noted that while some species can survive in brackish estuaries, the majority of these organisms are strictly adapted to a saltwater environment and cannot tolerate low salinity levels.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.