coast guard

noun

1

: a military or naval force employed in guarding a coast or responsible for the safety, order, and operation of maritime traffic in neighboring waters

2

usually coastguard

ˈkōs(t)-ˌgärd 

chiefly British : coastguardsman

Examples of coast guard in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Initial efforts to free it and coax it back toward deeper water, including using coast guard and fire department boats to create large waves, were unsuccessful. —ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026

Four fire service units and 10 divers were leading the search and rescue efforts, supported by the army, police, coast guard and local authorities. —Reuters, NBC news, 26 Mar. 2026

The teenager was wearing a life jacket at the time of her death, a coast guard official told Agence France-Presse. —CBS News, 16 Mar. 2026

The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea – signed by 167 countries – requires almost every commercial vessel to carry a radio transponder that broadcasts the ship’s identity, position, speed and heading to port authorities, coast guards and commercial tracking networks. —Charles Edward Gehrke, The Conversation, 10 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1833, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for coast guard

• asgard
• backyard
• barnyard
• blackguard
• bombard
• brickyard
• canard
• churchyard
• coastguard
• courtyard
• debarred
• diehard

Kids Definition

coast guard

noun

1

: a seagoing force for protecting a coast and people and property at sea

2

usually coastguard chiefly British : coastguardsman