waterway

noun

wa·​ter·​way ˈwȯ-tər-ˌwā How to pronounce waterway (audio)
ˈwä-
1
: a way or channel for water
2
: a navigable body of water

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the Erie Canal was superseded by a much larger waterway, the New York State Barge Canal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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Beyond the waterway’s importance to the surf, Chouinard and his pals knew that as recently as the 1940s, the Ventura had been a major spawning ground for thousands of steelhead trout and Chinook salmon. David Gelles, Time, 9 Sep. 2025 The waterways that have earned the city the nickname Venice of America. Michael Butler, Miami Herald, 9 Sep. 2025 Along with the swamp eels, scientists in the USGS Wetland and Aquatic Research Center have been most concerned about the spread of Cuban tree frogs, which secrete noxious chemicals that are harmful to humans, and alligatorweed, which clogs waterways that can impact infrastructure. Wesley Bruer, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2025 The waterway separates two of Japan's main islands—Honshu to the south and Hokkaido to the north. Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for waterway

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of waterway was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Waterway.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/waterway. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

waterway

noun
wa·​ter·​way ˈwȯt-ər-ˌwā How to pronounce waterway (audio)
ˈwät-
1
: a channel for water
2
: a body of water through which ships can travel

More from Merriam-Webster on waterway

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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