watercourse

noun

wa·​ter·​course ˈwȯ-tər-ˌkȯrs 

ˈwä-

1

: a natural or artificial channel through which water flows

2

: a stream of water (such as a river, brook, or underground stream)

Synonyms of watercourse

• canal
• aqueduct

Examples of watercourse in a Sentence

Pesticides are sometimes responsible for contamination of watercourses.

the Erie Canal was the first watercourse to connect the Hudson River with the Great Lakes

Recent Examples on the Web

And though the trickle of data from watercourses could be logged for much longer, that longevity came with risks. — IEEE Spectrum, 26 Feb. 2015

That episode led to the diversion of the Turia watercourse, which meant that a large part of the city was spared of these floods. — Teresa Medrano, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 Nov. 2024

Father and son were swept away by a landslide in the city of Arequipa in a neighborhood built directly over an ancient natural watercourse. — ABC News, 23 Feb. 2026

At the same time, there are riparian natives — those that grow along watercourses — which may need regular attention in terms of water needs for many years after planting. — Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 8 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for watercourse

• counterforce
• intercourse
• nonrecourse
• reinforce
• bourse
• coarse
• course
• force
• gorse
• hoarse
• horse
• norse

Kids Definition

watercourse

noun

wa·​ter·​course -ˌkō(ə)rs 

-ˌkȯ(ə)rs

1

: a channel in which water flows

2

: a stream of water (as a river or brook)