breakwater

noun

break·​wa·​ter ˈbrāk-ˌwȯ-tər How to pronounce breakwater (audio)
-ˌwä-
: an offshore structure (such as a wall) protecting a harbor or beach from the force of waves

Examples of breakwater in a Sentence

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.
The federal government's lawsuit hinges on a section in the U.S. Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 that says the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers must sign off on any plans to place a wharf, pier, boom breakwater, bulkhead, jetty or other structures in navigable waters. John C. Moritz, Austin American-Statesman, 15 May 2024 Fishing and sailing boats are sheltered in a marina fronted by restaurants, while the ruins of a nearby ancient breakwater are still visible underwater. John Oseid, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024 Vonk’s lawsuit accused the Neptune Society of Northern California of negligence, for the Naiad allegedly motoring at an unsafe speed and failing to keep clear of the breakwater, while no proper lookout was maintained. Ethan Baron, The Mercury News, 14 Nov. 2024 Between the jutting concrete pier and the breakwater, a line of boats bobbed gently in the waves. Greg Jackson, The New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for breakwater 

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1769, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of breakwater was circa 1769

Dictionary Entries Near breakwater

Cite this Entry

“Breakwater.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/breakwater. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

breakwater

noun
break·​wa·​ter ˈbrāk-ˌwȯt-ər How to pronounce breakwater (audio)
-ˌwät-
: an offshore structure (as a wall) to protect a harbor or beach from the force of waves

More from Merriam-Webster on breakwater

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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