maritime
adjective
mar·i·time
ˈmer-ə-ˌtīm 
ˈma-rə-
1
: of, relating to, or bordering on the sea
a maritime province
2
: of or relating to navigation or commerce on the sea
3
: having the characteristics of a mariner
Did you know?
The maritime countries of Portugal and England produced many seafaring explorers during the 16th and 17th centuries, many of whom sailed under the flags of other countries. Sailing for the Spanish, Ferdinand Magellan captained the ship that was the first to circle the world, charting many new maritime routes as it went. Henry Hudson, funded by the Dutch, sailed up what we call today the Hudson River, claiming the maritime area that now includes New York City for the Netherlands.
Examples of maritime in a Sentence
The country's maritime industry is an important part of its economy.
She's an expert in maritime law.
Recent Examples on the Web
The San Diego program took on a similar drone, Sea Hawk, in 2021 and turned it into a platform specializing in maritime surveillance, especially for such areas as the Persian Gulf.
—
Arkansas Online, 26 Apr. 2026
Piracy off Somalia’s coast, once among the most dangerous in the world, has declined significantly over the past decade due to international naval patrols and improved maritime security.
—ABC News, 25 Apr. 2026
The squeeze on shipments through the strait has rippled through global maritime trade, including through the Panama Canal nearly halfway around the world.
—Munir Ahmed, Chicago Tribune, 25 Apr. 2026
The cool maritime climate means that summer temperatures average in the upper 60s.
—Kara Williams, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for maritime
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Arkansas Online, 26 Apr. 2026
Piracy off Somalia’s coast, once among the most dangerous in the world, has declined significantly over the past decade due to international naval patrols and improved maritime security.
—ABC News, 25 Apr. 2026
The squeeze on shipments through the strait has rippled through global maritime trade, including through the Panama Canal nearly halfway around the world.
—Munir Ahmed, Chicago Tribune, 25 Apr. 2026
The cool maritime climate means that summer temperatures average in the upper 60s.
—Kara Williams, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for maritime
Cite this Entry
“Maritime.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/maritime. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
maritime
adjective
mar·i·time
ˈmar-ə-ˌtīm
1
: of, relating to, or bordering on the sea
maritime nations
2
: of or relating to navigation or commerce on the sea
maritime law
Legal Definition
maritime
adjective
mar·i·time
ˈmar-ə-ˌtīm
: of or relating to navigation or commerce on navigable waters
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