1
: any of a genus (Salsola) of plants (such as the Russian thistle) of the amaranth family of which some have been used in making soda ash
2
: a low-growing strong-smelling succulent coastal shrub (Batis maritima of the family Bataceae) of warm parts of the New World

Examples of saltwort in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Even those meeting saltwort for the first time will find that the rest of the meal looks familiar. Pete Wells, New York Times, 6 June 2017 An Eastern pygmy blue butterfly, about as big as a fingernail, rests on its host plant, a saltwort, in an Everglades National Park prairie. Jenny Staletovich, miamiherald, 29 Jan. 2018 Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute managed to grow more than 100 pounds of sea asparagus, sea purslane and saltwort in 10-weeks, with just salt water and fish waste as fertilizer. Daphne Ewing-Chow, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2021

Word History

First Known Use

1568, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of saltwort was in 1568

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Cite this Entry

“Saltwort.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/saltwort. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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