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.

Synonyms

• marine
• nautical
• navigational

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

After years of declining enrollment, America’s maritime academies are desperate for students. —Craig Hooper, Forbes, 17 Jan. 2025

The Russian Federation ignores international maritime law. —Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 17 Jan. 2025

These eco-measures will be monitored for at least a decade and Monaco’s government will use insights to guide future maritime projects, Levy Soussan said. —Lucy Handley, CNBC, 17 Jan. 2025

This remarkable discovery offers a glimpse into the maritime history of the region, providing valuable insights into past voyages. —Stories By Real-Time News Team, With Ai Summarization, Miami Herald, 17 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin maritimus, from mare

First Known Use

circa 1550, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids 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