waterway

noun

wa·​ter·​way ˈwȯ-tər-ˌwā 

ˈwä-

1

: a way or channel for water

2

: a navigable body of water

Synonyms

• aqueduct
• canal
• channel
• conduit
• course
• flume
• racecourse
• raceway
• watercourse

Examples of waterway in a Sentence

the Erie Canal was superseded by a much larger waterway, the New York State Barge Canal

Recent Examples on the Web

Panama took over control of the waterway on Dec. 31, 1999. —Sareen Habeshian, Axios, 6 Feb. 2025

House Republicans introduced a bill for the United States to repurchase the Panama Canal after Trump raised concerns that the critical waterway is under Chinese control. —Stepheny Price, Fox News, 3 Feb. 2025

Sources: Reasons to be Cheerful, Mongabay Colombo is restoring wetlands, helping to prevent floods The capital of Sri Lanka is built on a massive network of marshes and waterways. —Erika Page, The Christian Science Monitor, 3 Feb. 2025

Pesticide called 'new DDT' has been found in CT waterways. —Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 3 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

waterway

noun

wa·​ter·​way ˈwȯt-ər-ˌwā 

ˈwät-

1

: a channel for water

2

: a body of water through which ships can travel