centerboard

noun

cen·​ter·​board ˈsen-tər-ˌbȯrd How to pronounce centerboard (audio)
ˈse-nər-
: a retractable keel used especially in sailboats

Examples of centerboard 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.
One of Galveston Bay's oldest centerboard sailing clubs has fleets for all ages. — Houston Chronicle, 10 May 2018 From there, the builder installs two clamping, adjustable keels called leeboards that act together like a centerboard. — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 2 July 2026 The archaeologists also found the remains of a centerboard of the correct size. — National Geographic, 22 May 2019 Jorge Lima of Portugal recalls dropping from first place to last in a race here after a tarp that was floating beneath the surface caught his centerboard. — Ken Belson, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2016 The process comes down to connecting six aluminum frame sections, inflating the hull with a manual or electric pump, attaching the rudder and centerboard, and rigging the sail. — Omar Kardoudi march 13, New Atlas, 13 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1828, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of centerboard was in 1828

Rhymes for centerboard

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Browse Nearby Words

center bit
centerboard
center channel
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Cite this Entry

“Centerboard.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/centerboard. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

centerboard

noun
cen·​ter·​board ˈsent-ər-ˌbō(ə)rd How to pronounce centerboard (audio)
-ˌbȯ(ə)rd
: a keel that can be raised and is used especially in sailboats
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