Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day – "Brackish" (January 12, 2026)

Episode Overview

In this episode, Merriam-Webster explores the word "brackish." The host discusses its meanings, origin, use in context, and semantic evolution over time. The episode is educational and concise, aiming to enrich listeners’ vocabulary by diving into both scientific and everyday usages of the word.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Definition & Pronunciation

• Word: Brackish
• Spelling: B-R-A-C-K-I-S-H
• Part of Speech: Adjective
• Primary Meaning: "Somewhat salty, usually describing water or bodies of water, such as rivers, lakes, rivers and estuaries." [00:16]
• Secondary Meaning: "Not appealing to the taste or repulsive." [00:32]

Usage in Context

• The host offers a sentence from a Wired article to illustrate usage:

  • "The blood testing organs don't measure water levels but rather the concentration of salt, whose healthy range lies at almost exactly the same concentration as that of the brackish intertidal water in which vertebrates first evolved, which is about one third as salty as seawater." [00:22]

Etymology and Historical Usage

• First English Appearance: 1500s
• Origin: Derived from the Dutch word "brack," meaning "salty." [00:41]
• Initial Meaning: Simply "salty" in both Dutch and early English.
• Evolution: "Brackish" became associated specifically with "water that was a mixture of salt water and fresh water, such as one encounters when a river meets the sea." [00:48]
• Semantic Development: Gained additional meanings, including "unpalatable and repulsive," likely due to the less-than-pleasant qualities of estuaries and swamps:

  • "Presumably because of the oozy, mucky and sometimes stinky or stinky-ish, if you prefer, not just salty qualities of coastal estuaries and swamps." [01:08]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Definition:
  • "Brackish is an adjective. It means somewhat salty, usually describing water or bodies of water, such as rivers, lakes, rivers and estuaries." — Host [00:16]
• On Usage:
  • "The blood testing organs don't measure water levels but rather the concentration of salt, whose healthy range lies at almost exactly the same concentration as that of the brackish intertidal water in which vertebrates first evolved..." — Host quoting Wired [00:22]
• On Etymology:
  • "When the word brackish first appeared in English in the 1500s, it simply meant salty, as did its Dutch parent, brack." — Host [00:41]
• On Changed Meanings:
  • "Since that time, however, brackish has developed the additional meanings of unpalatable and repulsive, presumably because of the oozy, mucky and sometimes stinky or stinky-ish, if you prefer, not just salty qualities of coastal estuaries and swamps." — Host [01:08]

Timestamps of Important Segments

• Definition and Pronunciation: 00:00–00:32
• Example Sentence (Wired): 00:22–00:41
• Etymology and Historical Usage: 00:41–01:08
• Semantic Evolution & Wrap-Up: 01:08–End

Final Thoughts

This episode succinctly introduces "brackish," offering both foundational and nuanced understandings. The host seamlessly connects etymology, scientific context, and the word’s semantic trajectory, making for an informative and memorable entry in the daily series.