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.
Nearly a hundred were expelled into the Sundarbans, a mangrove forest between the two countries, and had to be rescued by Bangladesh’s coast guard. Suhasini Raj, New York Times, 17 May 2025 The issue comes as China increases patrols by its heavily armed coast guard near the Japan-administered, Beijing-claimed Senkaku Islands, drawing stern rebukes from the U.S. ally. Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 May 2025 In another shift from earlier years, recent rounds of exercises have witnessed China’s coast guard joining with the navy to practice blockading Taiwan. Bonny Lin, Foreign Affairs, 15 May 2025 Responding to a flare from the life raft, the skipper of a nearby ship rescued the survivors before calling the local coast guard, the report said. Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 15 May 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 29 May. 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
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