1
a
: a bay or recess in the shore of a sea, lake, or river
also
: creek
b
: a narrow water passage between peninsulas or through a barrier island leading to a bay or lagoon
2
: a way of entering
especially
: an opening for intake
Examples of inlet in a Sentence
The coast is dotted with tiny inlets.
went fishing in the quiet inlets of the coast
Recent Examples on the Web
The three boats were almost home, sailing the last few dozen miles before disappearing into Maine’s unchartable maze of inlets and bays.
—
Jack Crosbie, Rolling Stone, 17 Mar. 2026
Its design also incorporates a variable air inlet system to maintain stable airflow as speeds increase.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 5 Mar. 2026
Our group, Save the Inlet, was formed to protect the inlet from this mega-project and grows out the Friends of Bushwick Inlet Park, which has spent the last 20 years fighting to get the city to live up to its promises in the 2005 rezoning.
—Katherine Thompson, New York Daily News, 2 Mar. 2026
Once our fishing guide, Scott Allen, pulled up, the three of us climbed into his ATV to head to one of his six shacks on the frozen inlet.
—Robert Annis, Outside, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inlet
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Jack Crosbie, Rolling Stone, 17 Mar. 2026
Its design also incorporates a variable air inlet system to maintain stable airflow as speeds increase.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 5 Mar. 2026
Our group, Save the Inlet, was formed to protect the inlet from this mega-project and grows out the Friends of Bushwick Inlet Park, which has spent the last 20 years fighting to get the city to live up to its promises in the 2005 rezoning.
—Katherine Thompson, New York Daily News, 2 Mar. 2026
Once our fishing guide, Scott Allen, pulled up, the three of us climbed into his ATV to head to one of his six shacks on the frozen inlet.
—Robert Annis, Outside, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inlet
Cite this Entry
“Inlet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inlet. Accessed 23 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
inlet
noun
in·let
ˈin-ˌlet 
-lət
1
: a small or narrow bay
2
: an opening for intake especially of fluids
Medical Definition
inlet
noun
in·let
ˈin-ˌlet, -lət
: the upper opening of a bodily cavity
especially
: that of the cavity of the true pelvis bounded by the pelvic brim
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