territorial waters

plural noun

: the waters under the sovereign jurisdiction of a nation or state including both marginal sea and inland waters

Examples of territorial waters 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.
Since the fall of 2023, Ukrainian ships have typically stuck to sea lanes running through Romanian, Bulgarian, or Turkish territorial waters in the Black Sea, according to the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 14 Oct. 2026 Most have returned to Morocco, which Spain’s prime minister accused of entering its territorial waters during the crisis. — semafor.com, 14 Oct. 2026 Iran demands that ships use a northern route through its territorial waters to transit the strait or risk coming under attack. — Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 25 Aug. 2026 In a bid to control traffic through the narrow waterway, Iran has designated routes going through their territorial waters. — Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for territorial waters

Word History

First Known Use

1841, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of territorial waters was in 1841

Rhymes for territorial waters

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Browse Nearby Words

Territorial style
territorial waters
Territorian
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Cite this Entry

“Territorial waters.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/territorial%20waters. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Legal Definition

territorial waters

noun plural
territorial wa·​ters
: the waters under the sovereign jurisdiction of a nation or state including both marginal sea and inland waters

More from Merriam-Webster on territorial waters

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about territorial waters

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