maritime

adjective

mar·​i·​time ˈmer-ə-ˌtīm How to pronounce maritime (audio)
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 Explore Louisiana 10 of 20 Maryland: St. Michaels This gorgeous Eastern Shore enclave has everything in spades—a spectacular waterfront resort, a stunning maritime museum, a humming little downtown, and charming historic homes. Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 4 Mar. 2024 That would require permission from Israel, which controls Gaza’s maritime border. Claire Parker, Washington Post, 2 Mar. 2024 On Saturday afternoon, the British military’s maritime trade operations center, which watches over Mideast waterways, separately acknowledged the Rubymar's sinking. Michael Dorgan, Fox News, 2 Mar. 2024 Mariners planning travel to Mexico should check for U.S. maritime advisories and alerts, which include instructions on reporting suspicious activities and attacks to Mexican naval authorities. Chris Sims, The Indianapolis Star, 1 Mar. 2024 That’s not just a voluntary move, according to John H. (Jack) Hickey, a maritime trial attorney in Miami. Nathan Diller, USA TODAY, 15 Feb. 2024 An additional 25 smaller vessels will be used for offshore patrol and maritime security duties, the government said. Brad Lendon, CNN, 20 Feb. 2024 From medieval sailors buried beneath the cobblestone streets in Visby to the ruins of Norse shipyards where longboats were built 1,000 years ago, ancient maritime lore suffuses the island. Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 18 Feb. 2024 Kyiv’s maritime accomplishments will not win the war, but those victories will help the country succeed more broadly. Mark Cancian, Foreign Affairs, 8 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'maritime.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin maritimus, from mare

First Known Use

circa 1550, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of maritime was circa 1550

Dictionary Entries Near maritime

Cite this Entry

“Maritime.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/maritime. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

maritime

adjective
mar·​i·​time ˈmar-ə-ˌtīm How to pronounce maritime (audio)
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 How to pronounce maritime (audio)
: of or relating to navigation or commerce on navigable waters

More from Merriam-Webster on maritime

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