admiralty

noun

ad·​mi·​ral·​ty ˈad-m(ə-)rəl-tē 

1

Admiralty : the executive department or officers formerly having general authority over British naval affairs

2

: the court having jurisdiction over questions of maritime law

also : the system of law administered by admiralty courts

Examples of admiralty in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

By 1776, the word carried a decade of argument over consent, customs duties, officers, admiralty courts, and judicial salaries. — Joseph Thorndike, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026

Among others, scientist John Graham Kerr claimed credit and later challenged Wilkinson in Admiralty court. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 May 2026

Armed with that information, the team examined the admiralty charts in the area and scanned the seabed in the local area in attempt to find the ship. — Issy Ronald, CNN, 16 Aug. 2024

Lawrence Brennan, a longtime admiralty lawyer based in New Jersey, said these kinds of legal battles are not uncommon or even unprecedented. — Michael Kunzelman, arkansasonline.com, 21 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English admiralte, ameralte "office or jurisdiction of an admiral," borrowed from Anglo-French admiralté, amiralté from admiral, amiral admiral + -té -ty

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

admiralty

1 of 2 noun

1

: a group of officials formerly in charge of the British navy

2

: the court having authority over questions of maritime law

also : the system of law administered by admiralty courts

admiralty

2 of 2 adjective

ad·​mi·​ral·​ty

ˈad-mə-rəl-tē, 

-mrəl-

: of or relating to conduct on the sea

Legal Definition

admiralty

noun

ad·​mi·​ral·​ty ˈad-mə-rəl-tē 

: the court having jurisdiction over questions of maritime law

also : maritime law