estuary
noun
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A partly enclosed coastal body of water in which river water is mixed with seawater is called an estuary. An estuary is thus defined by salinity rather than geography. Many coastal features designated by other names are in fact estuaries (for instance, Chesapeake Bay). Some of the oldest continuous civilizations have flourished in estuarine environments (for example, the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, the Nile delta, and the Ganges delta). Cities such as London (Thames River), New York (Hudson River), and Montreal (St. Lawrence River) developed on estuaries and became important commercial centers.
Examples of estuary in a Sentence
Patrick Connolly, Orlando Sentinel, 21 Mar. 2025
As of last October, Maryland authorities had also not done a risk assessment for the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, Homendy said, a four-mile long set of parallel bridges crossing the estuary.
—Michael Loria, USA TODAY, 20 Mar. 2025
In calmer areas areas, particularly where there is lots of sediment suspended in the water (such as within the Humber estuary and parts of the Wash), there may be potential for contaminants to adhere to fine particles in suspension and subsequently sink to the seabed.
—Lauren Lowman, WIRED, 15 Mar. 2025
Stuart’s home county, Martin County, sits on the most biodiverse estuary in the Northern Hemisphere and is home to 100 artificial reef systems and more than 800 species of fish.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for estuary
Cite this Entry
“Estuary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/estuary. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.
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estuary
noun
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