Synonyms of canal

canal

noun

kə-ˈnal 

as in aqueduct

an open man-made passageway for water

the Panama Canal opened a much easier and shorter passageway from the Atlantic to the Pacific

Synonyms & Similar Words

• aqueduct
• waterway
• river
• watercourse
• conduit
• flume
• racecourse
• raceway
• channel
• course
• gutter
• spillway
• sluice
• floodway
• stream
• millrace
• millstream
• torrent
• sluiceway
• trough
• rivulet
• tideway
• swash

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of canal

With its iconic canals, Gothic architecture, Moorish windows, and artisan legacy spanning everything from Murano glass and Burano lace to terrazzo flooring, Venice is a design lover's paradise. — Madeline Weinfield, Architectural Digest, 5 Aug. 2026

Earlier that day, Ripley was caught on camera pushing the boy into a canal. — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 5 Aug. 2026

Homicide detectives are investigating the death of a person whose body was found floating in a canal in Dania Beach on Monday morning, the Broward Sheriff’s Office said. — Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 3 Aug. 2026

This town in southern Japan was a key rice distribution center in the Edo Period (1603–1867) thanks to a network of transport canals. — Jessica Kozuka, Travel + Leisure, 2 Aug. 2026