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watercraft

noun
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wa·​ter·​craft | \ ˈwȯ-tər-ˌkraft How to pronounce watercraft (audio) , ˈwä- \

Definition of watercraft

1 : skill in aquatic activities (such as managing boats)
2a : ship, boat
b : craft for water transport
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Synonyms for watercraft

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Examples of watercraft in a Sentence

just about any kind of watercraft can be seen on the lake during the summer
Recent Examples on the Web Some tried to swim across the border or used personal watercraft. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Border Patrol agents seized record amounts of fentanyl, meth in FY 2020," 10 Nov. 2020 Efoils represent a promising alternative to Jet Skis and waverunners, which have dominated the market for recreational personal watercraft for decades, says Stew Wagner, chief financial officer of Lift Foils. — Gregory Thomas, SFChronicle.com, "This $12,000 electric surfboard is the latest craze on Lake Tahoe," 8 Oct. 2020 Boaters can register online to have their watercraft inspected and serviced for free. — Anton L. Delgado, The Arizona Republic, "Arizona had slowed quagga mussel invasion, but a rise in boat sales could renew the threat," 8 Sep. 2020 Total new boat sales – from personal watercraft to yachts – in May were the highest in a decade, and June was strong as well, reports the National Marine Manufacturers Association,based on the latest sales figures available. — Chris Woodyard, USA TODAY, "Red-hot boat sales make waves in pandemic, luring first-timers and causing short supply," 29 Aug. 2020 On Monday afternoon, two personal watercraft — each holding an adult and two children — collided on Sand Hollow Reservoir, causing a father and two children to be thrown into the water. — Eric Walden, The Salt Lake Tribune, "11-year-old Arizona boy dies after watercraft accident at Sand Hollow State Park," 8 Oct. 2020 That includes powerboats, sailboats, kayaks, canoes and personal watercraft like Jet Skis. — Cliff Pinckard, cleveland, "Clevelanders working from home save 4.1 hours a week in commute: The Wake Up for Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020," 22 Sep. 2020 This boathouse has lifts for a boat plus two personal watercraft, as well as a shower inside. — Judy Rose, Detroit Free Press, "Kid Rock's former house on the Detroit River is back on the market," 5 Sep. 2020 During a bluebird September morning on Tahoe’s West Shore, Cook explained the tricky physics of riding an efoil, or electric hydrofoil, a new brand of personal watercraft popping up on waterways around the world. — Gregory Thomas, SFChronicle.com, "This $12,000 electric surfboard is the latest craze on Lake Tahoe," 8 Oct. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'watercraft.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of watercraft

1566, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Time Traveler for watercraft

Time Traveler

The first known use of watercraft was in 1566

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Statistics for watercraft

Last Updated

23 Nov 2020

Cite this Entry

“Watercraft.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/watercraft. Accessed 30 Nov. 2020.

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More Definitions for watercraft

watercraft

noun
How to pronounce watercraft (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of watercraft

: a ship or boat

See the full definition for watercraft in the English Language Learners Dictionary

More from Merriam-Webster on watercraft

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for watercraft

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about watercraft

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