riparian

adjective

ri·​par·​i·​an rə-ˈper-ē-ən How to pronounce riparian (audio)
rī-
: relating to or living or located on the bank of a natural watercourse (such as a river) or sometimes of a lake or a tidewater
riparian trees

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Riparian came to English from the same source that gave us "river"—the Latin riparius, a noun deriving from ripa, meaning "bank" or "shore." First appearing in English in the 19th century, "riparian" refers to things that exist alongside a river (such as riparian wetlands, habitats, trees, etc.). Some river communities have laws called "riparian rights," referring to the rights of those owning land along a river to have access to the waterway. Note the distinction of this word from "littoral," which usually refers to things that occur along the shore of a sea or ocean.

Examples of riparian in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The riparian zone is almost entirely confined to creek or river bottoms. Worth Matthewson, Outdoor Life, 2 Oct. 2025 Crews will then plant nearly 8,000 native plants within the wetland, riparian areas and near Third Valley Creek. Adrian Rodriguez, Mercury News, 29 Sep. 2025 Communities along the Colorado River could’ve used the new conservation leases to restore riparian environments, Carroll said. Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 28 Sep. 2025 These bears live mostly in forests, woodlands, chaparral habitats and desert riparian areas. Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for riparian

Word History

Etymology

Latin riparius — more at river

First Known Use

1807, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of riparian was in 1807

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Cite this Entry

“Riparian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/riparian. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.

Legal Definition

riparian

adjective
ri·​par·​i·​an rə-ˈper-ē-ən How to pronounce riparian (audio)
: of or relating to or living or located on the bank of a watercourse (as a river or stream) or sometimes a lake
broadly : of or relating to or living or located on the bank of a body of water compare littoral
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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