maritime

adjective

mar·​i·​time ˈmer-ə-ˌtīm 

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.

Synonyms of maritime

• nautical
• naval
• navigational
• marine

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

Thirteen vessels transited on Thursday, according to maritime intelligence group Windward, with four of those inbound and nine outbound. — Charlotte Reck, CNN Money, 16 Aug. 2026

That makes ports, naval bases, offshore installations, subsea cables and maritime chokepoints particularly interesting targets for persistent surveillance. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 15 Aug. 2026

Wildfires are not typically a major threat in Britain, usually known for a temperate maritime climate and frequent wet weather, even in the summertime. — Nick Duffy, NBC news, 14 Aug. 2026

As both overland and maritime trade became more secure and efficient, exchange between Europe and Asia deepened, facilitating the travels of figures such as Marco Polo, Giovanni da Pian del Carpini, and Ibn Battuta. — Ethan Teekah, Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin maritimus, from mare

First Known Use

circa 1550, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for maritime

• aforetime
• allozyme
• anytime
• christmastime
• cybercrime
• dinnertime
• guggenheim
• isozyme
• lysozyme
• mesenchyme
• overtime
• pantomime

Kids Definition

maritime

adjective

mar·​i·​time ˈmar-ə-ˌtīm 

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 

: of or relating to navigation or commerce on navigable waters