What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
freshwater
Example
The village relies on freshwater from the nearby river for their daily needs. [freshwater: noun]
Example
The freshwater aquarium contains various species of fish that require non-saline water. [freshwater: adjective]
potable
Example
The hiker brought a portable water filter to make the stream water potable. [potable: adjective]
Example
The campsite has a potable water source for visitors to use. [potable: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Freshwater is a more common term used in everyday language, while potable is a technical term used in scientific and engineering contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between freshwater and potable?
Potable is a more formal term than freshwater, and is typically used in technical or scientific contexts where precision and accuracy are important.
