waterway

noun

wa·​ter·​way ˈwȯ-tər-ˌwā 

ˈwä-

1

: a way or channel for water

2

: a navigable body of water

Synonyms of waterway

• canal
• aqueduct

Examples of waterway in a Sentence

the Erie Canal was superseded by a much larger waterway, the New York State Barge Canal

Recent Examples on the Web

Industrial animal agriculture confines and kills billions of animals while polluting waterways and damaging ecosystems. — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 25 Sep. 2026

Their new perch at the Bab el-Mandeb Strait at the southern end of the Red Sea after storming down Yemen’s coast this month gives them better surveillance of passing ships on one of the world’s busiest waterways. — Fatma Khaled, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026

Hazards include freshwater environment, the narrowness of the waterways, and the potential for human interference. — Anne Ewbank, Sacbee.com, 23 Sep. 2026

Rubio acknowledged the challenge posed by the severe threats to energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz but said that US military escorts to keep oil moving through the critical waterway will continue. — Adrienne Vogt, CNN Money, 23 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for waterway

• aaa
• alleyway
• alumnae
• anime
• anyway
• arete
• attache
• axillae
• baa
• beaujolais
• bouvier
• breakaway

Kids Definition

waterway

noun

wa·​ter·​way ˈwȯt-ər-ˌwā 

ˈwät-

1

: a channel for water

2

: a body of water through which ships can travel