watercraft

noun

wa·​ter·​craft ˈwȯ-tər-ˌkraft 

ˈwä-

1

: skill in aquatic activities (such as managing boats)

2

a

: ship, boat

b

: craft for water transport

Synonyms of watercraft

• boat
• vessel
• canoe
• kayak
• yacht

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

What’s killing the whales San Francisco Bay is a busy urban waterway, with high-speed ferries, cargo ships, commercial fishing vessels and recreational watercraft. —Daniel Crocker, The Conversation, 13 Apr. 2026

The rider hung onto his upside-down watercraft for an hour, as speeding boats raced by. —Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2026

The sheriff’s office said the watercraft, a 25-foot Dave’s Custom Boat, collided with the rocky banks on the Arizona side of the river, north of Lake Havasu. —Lucy Hodgman, San Francisco Chronicle, 8 Apr. 2026

Thrill seekers can ride personal watercraft, wakeboard, and parasail, while outdoor lovers can roam via a houseboat or lounge at a waterfront campsite. —Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 2 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1566, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for watercraft

• allograft
• autograft
• autographed
• countershaft
• handicraft
• homograft
• hovercraft
• lithographed
• overdraft
• photographed
• rotorcraft
• telegraphed

Kids Definition

watercraft

noun

wa·​ter·​craft -ˌkraft 

: craft for water transportation