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 chiefly British : coastguardsman

Examples of coast guard in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
On Thursday, China had more than 100 naval and coast guard vessels deployed across East Asian waters at one point, Reuters reported, citing sources and intelligence reports. CNN Money, 7 Dec. 2025 As part of its efforts to tighten control over the waters, China maintains a persistent presence of naval and coast guard vessels, supported by reefs that have been expanded into outposts with military infrastructure, including aviation and defensive facilities. Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2025 China sent its coast guard and military drones to the waters around outlying islands that both countries claim; Beijing also advised citizens to avoid traveling to Japan, and warned students there of heightened risks. J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 16 Nov. 2025 In this scenario, 600-odd Chinese coast guard vessels would take the lead, alongside the 3,000 or so armed fishing boats that form China’s maritime militia, although backed up by naval strike groups lurking close by. Charlie Campbell, Time, 23 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for coast guard

Word History

First Known Use

1833, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of coast guard was in 1833

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Coast guard.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coast%20guard. Accessed 17 Dec. 2025.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on coast guard

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!