loch

noun

ˈläk  ˈläḵ 

1

Scotland : lake

2

Scotland : a bay or arm of the sea especially when nearly landlocked

Synonyms of loch

• bay
• estuary
• firth
• cove

Examples of loch in a Sentence

in his biography of Samuel Johnson, James Boswell tells of being conducted by a Scottish boatman “across one of the lochs, as they call them, or arms of the sea”

Recent Examples on the Web

Cruising through one of the park’s 22 larger lochs is essential; several tour operators, including Cruise Loch Lomond and Sweeney’s Cruise Co, sail from ports around the park. —Andrea Bussell, Travel + Leisure, 24 Apr. 2026

The mammals thrive across habitats from inland rivers and lochs to rugged coastal environments. —Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 21 Apr. 2026

First there’s the outdoor activities on offer—from paddle boarding on the loch to mountain biking in the surrounding forest to golf. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Apr. 2026

Located on the shores of Loch Linnhe, one of 31,000 freshwater lochs in Scotland, Fort William sits in the shadow of Ben Nevis, at 4,490 feet the highest peak in Britain. —Patti Nickell, Boston Herald, 15 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English (Scots) louch, from Scottish Gaelic loch; akin to Latin lacus lake — more at lake

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for loch

• balk
• baulk
• bloc
• bock
• broch
• brock
• calk
• caulk
• chalk
• chock
• clock
• cock

Kids Definition

loch

noun

ˈläk  ˈläḵ 

1

Scottish : lake

2

Scottish : an arm of the sea especially when it is nearly surrounded by land