maritime

adjective

Synonyms of maritime
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.

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
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.
That move placed the vessel within Russia’s Pacific submarine force, which operates across the country’s eastern maritime approaches. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 29 Oct. 2026 For quieter hours, there is a second-floor polar library stocked with field guides and maritime histories, as well as an upper-level observation lounge opening onto an open-air viewing deck. — Liam Hess, Vogue, 29 Oct. 2026 The ship was too damaged to make the journey to the shore, so the maritime police towed it to a nearby port so the crew could receive medical treatment. — David Goldman, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2026 The maritime confrontations have provided a visual and tactical precedent for international actions, combining disruptions at sea with demonstrations on land and publicity campaigns online. — Asra Q. Nomani, FOXNews.com, 29 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for maritime

Word History

Etymology

Latin maritimus, from mare

First Known Use

circa 1550, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of maritime was circa 1550

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Maritime.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/maritime. Accessed 2 Nov. 2026.

Kids Definition

maritime

adjective
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
: of or relating to navigation or commerce on navigable waters
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