inlet

noun

in·​let ˈin-ˌlet 

-lət

1

a

: a bay or recess in the shore of a sea, lake, or river

also : creek

b

: a narrow water passage between peninsulas or through a barrier island leading to a bay or lagoon

2

: a way of entering

especially : an opening for intake

Synonyms

• arm
• bay
• bight
• cove
• creek [chiefly British]
• embayment
• estuary
• firth
• fjord
• fiord
• gulf
• loch [Scottish]

Examples of inlet in a Sentence

The coast is dotted with tiny inlets.

went fishing in the quiet inlets of the coast

Recent Examples on the Web

The wind and rain from this winter’s record-setting storms sounded the death knell for the boat, which rests at the edge of Tomales Bay, a narrow inlet above the San Andreas fault that separates the Point Reyes Peninsula from mainland Marin County. —Hailey Branson-Potts, Los Angeles Times, 14 June 2024

Boynton Beach Fire Rescue divers found the boy’s body at 10:39 a.m. on the north side of the inlet, the Sheriff’s Office said. —Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 13 June 2024

The model is complete with a rubber strap featuring the Porsche 963 logo and whose shape is inspired by the NACA-style low-drag air inlets, often featured on Porsche race cars going back to the record-breaking Porsche 917. —Cait Bazemore, Robb Report, 13 June 2024

Avoid inlets, outlets or narrow that may have current that can thin the ice. —Drew Dawson, Journal Sentinel, 11 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

from its letting water in

First Known Use

circa 1576, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

inlet

noun

in·​let ˈin-ˌlet 

-lət

1

: a small or narrow bay

2

: an opening for intake especially of fluids

Medical Definition

inlet

noun

in·​let ˈin-ˌlet, -lət 

: the upper opening of a bodily cavity

especially : that of the cavity of the true pelvis bounded by the pelvic brim