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
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.
This year marks the 150th anniversary of the wreck, which was one of the deadliest maritime disasters in the Pacific Northwest’s history. Joel Sams, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 Jan. 2025 The base, which occupies 45 square miles, serves as an operational and logistical hub in the region, supporting a variety of missions including maritime security, humanitarian assistance, and joint operations. Antonio Maria Delgado, Miami Herald, 29 Jan. 2025 The First Multi-Domain Task Force operates the Typhon, with the deployment of the missile system aiming to enhance the Philippine maritime defense capabilities, as well as bolster military cooperation and readiness within the U.S.-Philippine security alliance. Jonathan Granoff, Newsweek, 29 Jan. 2025 They are not allowed into the U.S. — a policy to deter maritime migration. Kathryn Watson, CBS News, 29 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for maritime 

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 12 Feb. 2025.

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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