riparian
adjective
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Riparian came to English from the same source that gave us "river"—the Latin riparius, a noun deriving from ripa, meaning "bank" or "shore." First appearing in English in the 19th century, "riparian" refers to things that exist alongside a river (such as riparian wetlands, habitats, trees, etc.). Some river communities have laws called "riparian rights," referring to the rights of those owning land along a river to have access to the waterway. Note the distinction of this word from "littoral," which usually refers to things that occur along the shore of a sea or ocean.
Examples of riparian in a Sentence
Gerald Winegrad, Baltimore Sun, 10 Feb. 2025
The fire, pushed by winds and burning in a grassy area, ran into a riparian creek area where its progress slowed, and firefighters were able to gain the upper hand, said Cal Fire Capt. Mike Cornette.
—Karen Kucher, The Mercury News, 11 Dec. 2024
For almost all of its 0.5-mile length, Allens Bend remains cloaked in a riparian canopy.
—Roger Naylor, The Arizona Republic, 18 Sep. 2024
The riparian habitat, where plants like willows and mule fat grow along the creeks and rivers, could take five to 10 years.
—Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Riparian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/riparian. Accessed 26 Feb. 2025.
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riparian
adjective
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