salinity
suh-LIN-uh-tee
/səˈlɪnəti/
The concentration of dissolved salts in water or soil.
A precise scientific measurement of salt content rather than a culinary description of flavor.
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'sal', meaning salt, which also gave us 'salary' (roman soldiers were given an allowance to purchase salt). Scientists created 'salinity' in the 19th century to systematically quantify dissolved mineral contents in oceanographic samples.
Word relationships
- saltiness: 'Saltiness' is a sensory taste perception, whereas 'salinity' is a quantitative scientific parameter.
- freshness: 'Freshness' in hydrology indicates absence of dissolved salts.
Commonly confused with
- brackishness: Brackishness refers specifically to water that has intermediate salinity between fresh and ocean water.
Word family
- saline (adjective): Containing salt; salty.
- desalination (noun): The removal of salt from water.
Collocations
- high salinity
- low salinity
- measure salinity
- water salinity
Example sentences
- "Heavy precipitation near the river mouth temporarily lowers the surface salinity of coastal waters." Marine Ecology
- "Evaporation in enclosed seas like the Dead Sea increases salinity to extreme levels." Scientific Reporting
Memory hook
SALINITY comes from SAL (Latin for salt). SALAD dressings often have salt! Measuring the ocean's salt.
When not to use
Do not use to describe the taste of food at a dining table; use 'saltiness' instead.
Fun facts
- Average ocean water has a salinity of roughly 35 parts per thousand, meaning 3.5% of its weight comes from dissolved salts.
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