desalination
dee-sal-ih-NAY-shun
/ˌdiːˌsælɪˈneɪʃən/
The process of removing salt and other minerals from saline water (usually seawater) to produce fresh water.
Often implies a large-scale industrial process rather than a small survival kit.
The story behind the word. The word is a straightforward construction: the prefix 'de-' (to remove) plus 'sal' (the Latin word for salt). It entered the English lexicon in the mid-20th century as industrial water processing became a reality.
Word relationships
- desalinization: An alternative spelling, though 'desalination' is more common in technical contexts.
Commonly confused with
- distillation: Distillation is one specific method of desalination (boiling water), but desalination also includes other methods like reverse osmosis.
Word family
- desalinate (verb): To remove salt from water.
- desalinator (noun): A device used for desalination.
Collocations
- desalination plant
- reverse osmosis desalination
- seawater desalination
Example sentences
- "Desalination plants are becoming essential for survival in the Middle East." News report on technology
- "The high energy cost of desalination remains a major hurdle for widespread adoption." Scientific journal
Memory hook
De-Sal-In-Ation: 'De' (remove) 'Sal' (salt) 'In' (into) 'Ation' (the process). Taking the salt out.
When not to use
Do not use for simple filtration that only removes dirt or bacteria.
Fun facts
- Israel now produces over 50% of its domestic water through desalination.
Related words
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