riparian
adjective
Did you know?
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
Literary Hub, 21 Nov. 2025
At the same time, there are riparian natives — those that grow along watercourses — which may need regular attention in terms of water needs for many years after planting.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 8 Nov. 2025
The agency is also urging people to keep pets on a leash when recreating outdoors, particularly near riparian habitats, which are where moose prefer to live.
—Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 7 Nov. 2025
The center and other environmental groups have long fought unauthorized grazing in riparian areas, along the San Pedro River south of Tucson and in the Tonto National Forest north and east of Phoenix, among other places.
—Shaun McKinnon, AZCentral.com, 28 Oct. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Riparian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/riparian. Accessed 1 Dec. 2025.
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riparian
adjective
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