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 The Philippines has signed or entered discussions over new security agreements with at least 18 countries since a Chinese coast guard vessel flashed a military-grade laser at a Philippine coast guard ship in the South China Sea last year, according to the Philippine Defense Department. Regine Cabato, Washington Post, 9 Mar. 2024 The crew of the coast guard plane confirmed the instruction seconds later, according to the transcript. Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 3 Jan. 2024 Since then, according to Manila, China’s coast guard has regularly harassed Philippine fishing vessels in the fertile waters near Scarborough Shoal – most recently on February 22 – and fired water cannon on Philippine ships resupplying a military outpost in the Second Thomas Shoal. Kathleen Magramo, CNN, 4 Mar. 2024 With that, in January 1997, the French coast guard transmitted its final message in Morse code. Saahil Desai, The Atlantic, 2 Mar. 2024 Six Chinese coast guard officers last week boarded a Taiwanese tourist boat carrying 11 crew and 23 passengers to check its route plan, certificate and crew licenses, leaving about half an hour later, Taiwan’s coast guard said. Reuters, NBC News, 27 Feb. 2024 The skipper also alerted the St. Vincent coast guard, and police were notified in turn. Justin Jouvenal, Washington Post, 27 Feb. 2024 In 1979, the U.S. and Canadian coast guards had 20 icebreakers stationed throughout the Great Lakes. Caitlin Looby, Journal Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2024 Hendry's family issued a statement Saturday thanking police, local coast guards, and those who helped authorities gather information. Colleen Wixon, USA TODAY, 26 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'coast guard.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near coast guard

Cite this Entry

“Coast guard.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coast%20guard. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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

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