What does it mean when water is not wet?

No, Water Isn't Wet.

• From a scientific standpoint, "wetness" is the condition of a solid object being covered or saturated with a liquid.
• Water is a liquid that makes other things wet.
  Wetness describes the interaction between a liquid and a solid surface. A single water molecule isn't wet. A collection of water molecules (liquid water) is the substance that causes wetness on other objects.
• Think of it this way: Fire isn't "burnt"; it's the thing that burns other things. Similarly, water isn't "wet"; it's the thing that wets other things.

Yes, Water Is Wet.

• From a practical and linguistic perspective, most people would say that water is wet.
• This is because water molecules stick to each other (a property called cohesion).
  When you touch water, water molecules adhere to your skin, and you perceive the sensation of being wet.
  If you define "wet" as "being made of or covered in a liquid," then a body of water is certainly covered in its own molecules, and therefore, it is wet.

The Verdict
 

• There is no single correct answer.
• Scientifically, the most precise answer is no. Water is the agent of wetness, but not wet itself.
  In everyday language, the answer is yes. We experience water as being wet.