Definition

The condition of having a lot of salt in something, often used to describe the taste of food or the nature of water.

Example

The saltness of the ocean water makes it unsuitable for drinking.

Conversation

Have you ever thought about the saltness of the ocean water?

Yeah, it can be surprisingly strong, especially after swimming for a while.

I wonder how much the saltness affects marine life.

It must play a big role in how different species survive.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Saltness is formed from "salt" (from Old English *sealt*, meaning a mineral substance used for seasoning and preserving food) and "-ness" (meaning a state or quality of). The word "saltness" refers to the quality or state of being salty.

Memory Tip

Think of the mineral substance used for seasoning food ('salt') and the quality of that substance ('-ness') to remember that 'saltness' means the quality of being salty.

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