marine

1 of 3

adjective

ma·​rine mə-ˈrēn 

1

a

: of or relating to the sea

marine life

marine biology

b

: of or relating to the act or practice of sailing over the sea : nautical

a marine chart

c

: of or relating to the commerce (see commerce entry 1 sense 2) of the sea : maritime

marine law

d

: depicting the sea, seashore, or ships

a marine painter

2

: of or relating to marines (see marine entry 2 sense 2)

marine barracks

marine

2 of 3

noun (1)

1

a

: the mercantile and naval shipping of a country

b

: seagoing ships especially in relation to nationality or class

2

: one of a class of armed services personnel serving on shipboard or in close association with a naval force

specifically : a member of the U.S. Marine Corps

3

: an executive department (as in France) having charge of naval affairs

4

: a marine picture : seascape

marine blue

3 of 3

noun (2)

variants or less commonly marine

plural -s

: a moderate purplish blue that is bluer and duller than average cornflower or gentian blue and bluer and less strong than old glory blue

called also purple navy

Synonyms of marine

Adjective

• oceanic
• maritime
• underwater

Examples of marine in a Sentence

Adjective

marine animals such as dolphins and whales

he loves collecting little marine creatures while at the beach

Noun (1)

He is a former U.S. Marine.

the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Pioneer Yachts will make a very quiet entry into the marine industry next month. —Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 13 June 2026

Most people who go on safari are adventurous and love animals, so seeing the Big Five on land and then experiencing all the marine life in the ocean is unique combination that satisfies so many different interests and passions. —Judy Koutsky, Forbes.com, 13 June 2026

Noun

The finding might indicate that prehistoric marine ecosystems featured a greater variety of predators and were far more complex than previously imagined. —Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 4 June 2026

The marine was subsequently detained during an investigation. —Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 2 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Noun (1)

Middle English, from Latin marinus, from mare sea; akin to Old English mere sea, pool, Old High German meri sea, Old Church Slavic morje

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (1)

1669, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing marine

• marine architect
• marine biologist
• marine iguana
• marine toad
• merchant marine
• sergeant major of the marine corps

Rhymes for marine

• agin
• alkene
• allene
• ameen
• amin
• arene
• athene
• baleen
• beeline
• benzene
• between
• bromine

Kids Definition

marine

1 of 2 adjective

ma·​rine mə-ˈrēn 

1

a

: of or relating to the sea

marine life

b

: of or relating to the navigation of the sea : nautical, maritime

a marine chart

marine insurance

2

: of or relating to marines

marine barracks

marine

2 of 2 noun

1

: the commercial and naval shipping of a country

2

: one of a class of soldiers serving aboard ship or in association with a naval force

especially : a member of the U.S. Marine Corps