maritime
adjective
mar·i·time
ˈmer-ə-ˌtīm 
ˈma-rə-
1
: of, relating to, or bordering on the sea
a maritime province
2
: of or relating to navigation or commerce on the sea
3
: having the characteristics of a mariner
Did you know?
The maritime countries of Portugal and England produced many seafaring explorers during the 16th and 17th centuries, many of whom sailed under the flags of other countries. Sailing for the Spanish, Ferdinand Magellan captained the ship that was the first to circle the world, charting many new maritime routes as it went. Henry Hudson, funded by the Dutch, sailed up what we call today the Hudson River, claiming the maritime area that now includes New York City for the Netherlands.
Examples of maritime in a Sentence
The country's maritime industry is an important part of its economy.
She's an expert in maritime law.
Recent Examples on the Web
Iran has reportedly begun laying mines in the crucial maritime trade route and UK authorities said three ships off Iran’s coast were hit by projectiles, while US forces reported destroying 16 Iranian mine-laying vessels.
—
Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 11 Mar. 2026
The waterway is a narrow maritime corridor that connects the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.
—Sam Meredith, CNBC, 11 Mar. 2026
Abroad, Japan, since 2016, has promoted the Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) involving collaboration among the maritime democracies of the region.
—Arthur I. Cyr, Chicago Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026
The addition of the two new ships further strengthens China’s ability to conduct long-range maritime operations.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for maritime
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Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 11 Mar. 2026
The waterway is a narrow maritime corridor that connects the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.
—Sam Meredith, CNBC, 11 Mar. 2026
Abroad, Japan, since 2016, has promoted the Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) involving collaboration among the maritime democracies of the region.
—Arthur I. Cyr, Chicago Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026
The addition of the two new ships further strengthens China’s ability to conduct long-range maritime operations.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for maritime
Cite this Entry
“Maritime.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/maritime. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
maritime
adjective
mar·i·time
ˈmar-ə-ˌtīm
1
: of, relating to, or bordering on the sea
maritime nations
2
: of or relating to navigation or commerce on the sea
maritime law
Legal Definition
maritime
adjective
mar·i·time
ˈmar-ə-ˌtīm
: of or relating to navigation or commerce on navigable waters
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