sealift

noun

sea·​lift ˈsē-ˌlift How to pronounce sealift (audio)
: transport of military personnel and especially equipment by ship
sealift transitive verb

Examples of sealift in a Sentence

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.
According to Shugart, Chinese authorities may be testing the barges’ ability to interface with civilian RO-RO vessels, which could significantly boost the PLA’s sealift capabilities by enabling the rapid transfer of large numbers of wheeled and tracked vehicles. Yong Xiong, CNN, 25 Mar. 2025 So without getting into details on the lesser categories of vessels like auxiliaries and sealift, the fiscal 2024 long-range shipbuilding plan is not adequate to assure U.S. maritime dominance over the long run. Loren Thompson, Forbes, 20 Apr. 2023 The concept behind Liberty Lifter is to create a sort of hybrid delivery system that combines the speed of airlift with the efficiency of sealift. IEEE Spectrum, 14 Feb. 2023 The agency points out that traditional sealift using cargo ships is very efficient, but slow and reliant on the use of ports. Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 27 May 2022 Russia retains the airlift and sealift capabilities needed to deploy its troops at some distance from its borders. Michael Kofman, Foreign Affairs, 19 Oct. 2021 To fulfill its need for strategic sealift, the Navy got congressional permission to buy used ships at one-tenth the cost. Abraham Mahshie, Washington Examiner, 29 Apr. 2021

Word History

First Known Use

1948, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sealift was in 1948

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sealift.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sealift. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!