aquanaut
noun
aqua·naut
ˈä-kwə-ˌnȯt
ˈa-,
-ˌnät
: a scuba diver who lives and operates both inside and outside an underwater shelter for an extended period
Did you know?
Aquanaut Has Greek Roots
Aquanaut combines aqua with the Greek nautes, meaning "sailor". Like astronaut and aeronaut, the word may remind you of those mythical Greek heroes known as the Argonauts, who sailed with Jason on his ship, the Argo, in quest of the Golden Fleece. Various underwater habitats for aquanauts, such as Conshelf, SEALAB, and MarineLab, have captured the public imagination since the 1960s.
Cite this Entry
“Aquanaut.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aquanaut. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
