seaworthy

1 of 2

adjective

sea·​wor·​thy ˈsē-ˌwər-t͟hē 

: fit or safe for a sea voyage

a seaworthy ship

seaworthiness

ˈsē-ˌwər-t͟hē-nəs 

noun

seaworthiness

2 of 2

noun

sea·​wor·​thi·​ness ˈsēˌwərt͟hēnə̇s 

: the quality or state of being seaworthy

specifically : the fitness of a ship for a particular voyage with reference to the condition of its hull and machinery, the extent of its fuel and provisions supply, the quality of its officers and crew, and its adaptability for the type of voyage proposed

Examples of seaworthy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Many boats leaving Libya are overcrowded and barely seaworthy. — Lefteris Pitarakis, Arkansas Online, 1 Mar. 2026

Many are barely seaworthy and often engage in ship-to-ship transfers of their cargo while at sea in an effort to obscure the oil’s origin. — Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 8 Jan. 2026

As the world’s oldest active sailing ship, the Star of India is still seaworthy and sails regularly. — Marsha Sutton, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Nov. 2025

The carrier said that the vessel remains fully operational and seaworthy. — Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 11 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1798, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for seaworthy

• swarthy
• unseaworthy

Kids Definition

seaworthy

adjective

sea·​wor·​thy -ˌwər-t͟hē 

: fit or safe for a sea voyage

a seaworthy ship

seaworthiness noun