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adj Common

maritime

MA-rih-tym

Maritime (adj) means relating to the sea, shipping, or a nation's activity at sea. Example: “The country has a long maritime tradition of fishing and trade.”

adj
1
Relating to the sea, shipping, or a nation's activity at sea.
"The country has a long maritime tradition of fishing and trade."
"Maritime law governs disputes that happen on international waters."
2
Located near or bordering the sea.
"The maritime provinces of Canada include Nova Scotia and New Brunswick."

How to Use Maritime

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishConnected with the sea, ships, or seaside regions — broader than "marine," which usually describes things actually living or existing in the sea.

Easily confused with
Common pairings
maritime law maritime history a maritime nation

Word Forms

more maritime comparative, most maritime superlative

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Test yourself on “maritime” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

The country has a long _____ tradition of fishing and trade.

Etymology

From Latin maritimus, from mare ("sea"), by way of Middle French maritime.

Origin: Latin

Related Words

Rhymes for maritime

See all rhymes for maritime →

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “maritime” mean?

The word “maritime” means relating to the sea, shipping, or a nation's activity at sea. In plain terms, connected with the sea, ships, or seaside regions — broader than "marine," which usually describes things actually living or existing in the sea.

How do you pronounce “maritime”?

“Maritime” is pronounced MA-rih-tym (/ˈmæ.ɹɪˌtaɪm/ in IPA).

How do you use “maritime” in a sentence?

Here is “maritime” used in a sentence: “The country has a long maritime tradition of fishing and trade.”

What part of speech is “maritime”?

“Maritime” is an adjective.

Where does the word “maritime” come from?

The word “maritime” comes from Latin. From Latin maritimus, from mare ("sea"), by way of Middle French maritime.

Is “maritime” a common word?

“Maritime” is a fairly common word in modern English.

How many meanings does “maritime” have?

“Maritime” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to the sea, shipping, or a nation's activity at sea.

What is the difference between "maritime" and "marine"?

Both relate to the sea, but they are used differently. "Maritime" usually describes activity connected with the sea, especially shipping, trade, and law, as in maritime law or a maritime nation. "Marine" more often describes things living in or produced by the sea, such as marine life or marine biology.

What is the difference between "maritime" and "naval"?

"Maritime" is a broad term covering everything relating to the sea, shipping, and seaborne trade, including commercial and civilian activity. "Naval" specifically refers to a country's navy and military forces at sea, so a naval battle involves warships while maritime trade involves merchant vessels.

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