snorkel

1 of 2

noun

snor·​kel ˈsnȯr-kəl 

plural snorkels

1

: a plastic tube that allows a swimmer to breathe while keeping the head or face under the surface of the water

He swam about 250 yards on the surface, using a snorkel to breathe, to get past the barren sandy bottom.

—Brian Clark

No complicated equipment—just a mask, snorkel, and fins, and you're set to explore a shimmering world of exotic fish and Technicolor coral.

—Richard Alleman

2

: a tube housing air intake and exhaust pipes for a vehicle's engine that can be extended above the water's surface so that the engine can be operated while the vehicle is partially or fully submerged

Water entered the snorkel of an Argentine submarine and caused one of its batteries to short circuit …

—Chicago Tribune

Most need to be specially modified … with extra ground clearance to get over big rocks, an exhaust snorkel for river crossings, industrial-strength suspension, and an engine with enough torque to power through mud and sand.

—Jerry Guo

snorkel

2 of 2

verb

snorkeled; snorkeling ˈsnȯr-k(ə-)liŋ 

intransitive verb

: to operate or swim submerged using a snorkel

snorkeler

ˈsnȯr-k(ə-)lər 

noun

Examples of snorkel in a Sentence

Verb

We snorkeled in the Caribbean on our vacation last year.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Located roughly an hour west of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, this adventure haven is filled with endless opportunities to swim, boat, fish, ski, scuba dive, snorkel, bike, or hike. —Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 16 June 2026

Rainbow Reef – This 3,800-square-foot manmade saltwater lagoon is the perfect place for families with young children to snorkel with marine life without worrying about the ocean's currents or other hazards. —Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 15 June 2026

Verb

Venture out on the Anglin’s Pier Reef Snorkel Trail (best accessed from the Datura Avenue beach portal) to snorkel around three coral reefs that are within 100 yards of the shore. —Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 17 June 2026

Get to know the island’s wildlife with a visit to Parotte Ville, a trail ride at Seaside Nature Park, and snorkeling with Under SXM. —Megan Margulies, Travel + Leisure, 14 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

German Schnorchel

First Known Use

Noun

1945, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Verb

1949, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

snorkel

1 of 2 noun

snor·​kel ˈsnȯr-kəl 

1

: a tube or tubes that can be extended above the surface of the water to supply air to and remove exhaust from a submerged submarine

2

: a tube used by swimmers for breathing with the head under water

snorkel

2 of 2 verb

snorkeled; snorkeling -k(ə-)liŋ 

: to swim underwater using a snorkel