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
Examples of coast guard in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In the most recent confrontation two weeks ago, a Chinese coast guard vessel used a water cannon against a Philippine boat, shattering its glass panel and injuring four Filipino sailors.
—
Kathleen Magramo, CNN, 20 Mar. 2024
Taiwan sent four coast guard vessels and its Chinese counterpart six to participate in the rescue effort, the coast guard said.
—Reuters, NBC News, 14 Mar. 2024
Earlier this week, a Chinese coast guard ship fired water cannons at a Philippine coast guard vessel, shattering a windscreen and injuring four personnel, Philippine authorities said.
—Regine Cabato, Washington Post, 9 Mar. 2024
Our county teams and coast guard are heading out now to investigate.
—Laylan Connelly, Orange County Register, 8 Mar. 2024
In the second case, also early Saturday, the coast guard was informed that people had landed on a beach on the island of Rhodes.
—Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 12 Feb. 2024
Japan's coast guard reported that the projectile fell into the sea.
—Andrea Vacchiano, Fox News, 1 Apr. 2024
Chinese media publicized last week that the coast guard had also recently participated in training with naval ships under the Eastern Theater Command — the military area that encompasses Taiwan.
—Amy Chang Chien, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2024
But the living conditions on the coast guard vessel are still far better than on the wreck of the Sierra Madre.
—Rebecca Wright, CNN, 6 Mar. 2024
Kathleen Magramo, CNN, 20 Mar. 2024
Taiwan sent four coast guard vessels and its Chinese counterpart six to participate in the rescue effort, the coast guard said.
—Reuters, NBC News, 14 Mar. 2024
Earlier this week, a Chinese coast guard ship fired water cannons at a Philippine coast guard vessel, shattering a windscreen and injuring four personnel, Philippine authorities said.
—Regine Cabato, Washington Post, 9 Mar. 2024
Our county teams and coast guard are heading out now to investigate.
—Laylan Connelly, Orange County Register, 8 Mar. 2024
In the second case, also early Saturday, the coast guard was informed that people had landed on a beach on the island of Rhodes.
—Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 12 Feb. 2024
Japan's coast guard reported that the projectile fell into the sea.
—Andrea Vacchiano, Fox News, 1 Apr. 2024
Chinese media publicized last week that the coast guard had also recently participated in training with naval ships under the Eastern Theater Command — the military area that encompasses Taiwan.
—Amy Chang Chien, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2024
But the living conditions on the coast guard vessel are still far better than on the wreck of the Sierra Madre.
—Rebecca Wright, CNN, 6 Mar. 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
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 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
coast guard
noun1
: a seagoing force for protecting a coast and people and property at sea
2
More from Merriam-Webster on coast guard
Nglish: Translation of coast guard for Spanish Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about coast guard
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