salinity
suh-LIN-uh-tee
/səˈlɪnəti/
The concentration of dissolved salts in water.
A critical factor in determining water density and driving ocean currents.
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'sal', meaning salt. The suffix '-ity' turns it into a state or condition. It has been used in scientific contexts since the 18th century.
Word relationships
- saltiness: A more common, less technical term.
Commonly confused with
- alkalinity: Alkalinity measures the ability to neutralize acid, not the salt content.
Word family
- saline (adjective): Containing salt.
- salinize (verb): To increase the salt content of.
Collocations
- high salinity
- ocean salinity
- salinity levels
Example sentences
- "Changes in salinity can affect the buoyancy of marine organisms." Oceanography lecture.
- "Melting glaciers are decreasing the salinity of the North Atlantic." Climate change report.
Memory hook
'Salinity' sounds like 'Salt-in-it-y'. Salinity = Salt level.
When not to use
Do not use to mean 'saltiness' in a culinary sense; it is a technical measure.
Fun facts
- The average salinity of the ocean is about 35 parts per thousand.
Related words
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