canal

1 of 2

noun

ca·​nal kə-ˈnal 

1

: a tubular anatomical passage or channel : duct

2

: channel, watercourse

3

: an artificial waterway for navigation or for draining or irrigating land

4

: any of various faint narrow lines on the planet Mars seen through telescopes and once thought by some to be canals built by Martians

canal

2 of 2

verb

canalled or canaled; canalling or canaling

transitive verb

: to construct a canal through or across

Synonyms

Noun

• aqueduct
• waterway

Examples of canal in a Sentence

Noun

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

That trend also increases evaporation, fueling more rain that washes pollution like chemicals, dog poop and trash into canals and Biscayne Bay. —Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 30 June 2025

For the most motivated who want to take it all in, July 13 is the start of an eight-day, 400-mile bicycle ride along the canal from Buffalo to Albany involving 40-to-60 mile rides a day, 85 percent off-road. —David Moin, Footwear News, 28 June 2025

The joy rushing through the canals has been palpable. —Martina Di Licosa, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025

The collection, comprising approximately 100 drawings by the musician, features portraits and landscapes, including images of roller skaters, a suspension bridge, a karaoke singer, a Parisian canal, a man with a crooked smile, and a roll of Scotch tape. —Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 24 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Latin canalis pipe, channel, from canna reed — more at cane

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1792, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing canal

• alimentary canal
• birth canal
• ear canal
• haversian canal
• resin canal
• root canal
• semicircular canal
• spinal canal
• stone canal
• vertebral canal

Rhymes for canal

• chorale
• corral
• ghazal
• locale
• morale
• royale
• bal
• dal
• gal
• mal
• pal
• sal

Kids Definition

canal

noun

ca·​nal

kə-ˈnal

1

: a tube-shaped bodily passage or channel : duct

2

: an artificial waterway for boats or for draining or irrigating land

3

: any of various faint narrow lines on the planet Mars seen through telescopes and formerly thought to be canals built by Martians

Medical Definition

canal

noun

ca·​nal kə-ˈnal 

: a tubular anatomical passage or channel : duct see alimentary canal, Haversian canal, inguinal canal