Definition

The process of taking salt out of seawater to make it safe for drinking and other uses.

Example

Desalination is becoming an important method to provide fresh water in arid regions.

Conversation

Have you heard about the new desalination plant they built near the coast?

Yeah, I read that it’s supposed to help with the water shortage.

I think it’s fascinating how they can turn seawater into drinking water using desalination.

For sure! It's a smart solution for many places facing drought.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Desalination is formed from "de-" (meaning removal) and "sal" (from Latin "sal", meaning salt) and "-ination" (a suffix indicating a process). The word describes the process of removing salt from water, particularly seawater, to make it suitable for drinking or irrigation.

Memory Tip

Think of 'removing' ('de-') 'salt' ('sal') from water — that's what desalination means.

Visually Confused Words