estuary
noun
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A partly enclosed coastal body of water in which river water is mixed with seawater is called an estuary. An estuary is thus defined by salinity rather than geography. Many coastal features designated by other names are in fact estuaries (for instance, Chesapeake Bay). Some of the oldest continuous civilizations have flourished in estuarine environments (for example, the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, the Nile delta, and the Ganges delta). Cities such as London (Thames River), New York (Hudson River), and Montreal (St. Lawrence River) developed on estuaries and became important commercial centers.
Examples of estuary in a Sentence
Kelsey Glennon, Southern Living, 3 Oct. 2025
It is designed as a suspension bridge that will cross a branch of the Pearl River estuary, linking major transportation corridors in southern China.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 3 Oct. 2025
One post showed Johnson and his wife boating with Bukele and his family on an estuary in El Salvador.
—T. Christian Miller, ProPublica, 30 Sep. 2025
The salt marshes and estuaries are a magnet for migratory birds, whose colorful plumage rivals the blaze of bold leaves.
—Allison Tibaldi, USA Today, 20 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for estuary
Cite this Entry
“Estuary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/estuary. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
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estuary
noun
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