maritime

adjective

mar·​i·​time ˈmer-ə-ˌtīm How to pronounce maritime (audio)
ˈma-rə-
1
: of, relating to, or bordering on the sea
a maritime province
2
: of or relating to navigation or commerce on the sea
3
: having the characteristics of a mariner

Did you know?

The maritime countries of Portugal and England produced many seafaring explorers during the 16th and 17th centuries, many of whom sailed under the flags of other countries. Sailing for the Spanish, Ferdinand Magellan captained the ship that was the first to circle the world, charting many new maritime routes as it went. Henry Hudson, funded by the Dutch, sailed up what we call today the Hudson River, claiming the maritime area that now includes New York City for the Netherlands.

Examples of maritime in a Sentence

The country's maritime industry is an important part of its economy. She's an expert in maritime law.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
To excavate our stories and relationships to maritime culture. Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 July 2025 For instance, closing critical maritime routes like the Strait of Hormuz or the Suez Canal can cause transportation delays. Skip York, The Conversation, 27 June 2025 Its first voyage in 1893 marked a turning point in Norwegian maritime history by establishing a regular and reliable route between Bergen in the south and Kirkenes in the north that linked these two remote regions together. AFAR Media, 26 June 2025 The United States does not have sufficient military presence or maritime infrastructure, such as deep-sea ports, to defend large swaths of Arctic territory. Michael Albertus, Foreign Affairs, 24 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for maritime

Word History

Etymology

Latin maritimus, from mare

First Known Use

circa 1550, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of maritime was circa 1550

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Cite this Entry

“Maritime.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/maritime. Accessed 10 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

maritime

adjective
mar·​i·​time ˈmar-ə-ˌtīm How to pronounce maritime (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or bordering on the sea
maritime nations
2
: of or relating to navigation or commerce on the sea
maritime law

Legal Definition

maritime

adjective
mar·​i·​time ˈmar-ə-ˌtīm How to pronounce maritime (audio)
: of or relating to navigation or commerce on navigable waters

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