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

Last month, Philippine Senator Panfilo Lacson cited reports suggesting that at least two Chinese coast guard members had died in the incident. —Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025

China seized the uninhabited atoll – 870 km (540 miles) from its southernmost province of Hainan – in 2012 after a long standoff with the Philippine Navy, and has maintained an almost constant coast guard presence in nearby waters since. —Nectar Gan, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2025

Don't miss these The coast guard rescued three people from a plane downed in Lake Michigan south of Milwaukee. —Jr Radcliffe, jsonline.com, 11 Sep. 2025

Sailors battling the flames received assistance from the crew of the USS San Diego, a similar ship moored nearby, along with the Japanese military and coast guard. —Chloe Yang, NBC news, 21 Aug. 2025

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