aquatic

UK: /əˈkwætɪk/

US: /əˈkwætɪk, əˈkwɑt-/

US: (ə kwat′ik, ə kwot′-)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

a•quat•ic /əˈkwætɪk, əˈkwɑt-/   adj. 

1. Ecology living or growing in water:
   aquatic plant life.
2. taking place or practiced on or in water:
   [before a noun] Swimming is an aquatic sport.

n. [countable]

3. Plant Biology, Ecology an aquatic plant or animal.
4. Sport aquatics, [plural] sports practiced on or in water.

a•quat•i•cal•ly, adv. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

a•quat•ic  (ə kwat′ik, ə kwot′-), adj. 

1. of, in, or pertaining to water.
2. Ecology living or growing in water:
   aquatic plant life.
3. taking place or practiced on or in water:
   aquatic sports.

n. 

4. Plant Biology, Ecology an aquatic plant or animal.
5. Sport aquatics, sports practiced on or in water.

• Latin, as above
• Middle French
• Latin aquāticus, equivalent. to aqu(a) water + -āticus (see -ate¹, -ic); replacing late Middle English aquatyque
• 1480–90

a•quat′i•cal•ly, adv. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

aquatic / əˈkwætɪk əˈkwɒt-/ adjective

1. growing, living, or found in water
2. performed in or on water

noun

1. a marine or freshwater animal or plant

Etymology: 15th Century: from Latin aquāticus, from aqua water