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

The Philippines had 10 ships, three of which came from its coast guard; a small Philippine government propeller plane also buzzed low above the vessels during the mission. — Ivan Watson, CNN Money, 24 July 2026

The Philippine coast guard, however, said the two fishing vessels were harassed while bringing fuel aid to Filipino fishermen in the Scarborough shoal. — ABC News, 22 July 2026

Photos shared on the prime minister’s social media accounts showed rescue workers pulling passengers, including some children, from small boats into a coast guard vessel in the early morning hours on Sunday. — Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 19 July 2026

Migrants rescued by the Italian coast guard or found on shore are brought here, and spend only a few days before being sent on to facilities elsewhere in Italy. — Mark Sappenfield, Christian Science Monitor, 6 July 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