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
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And any conflict within or near China’s territorial waters would likely have a disproportionate impact on the Chinese economy, which relies heavily on maritime trade and trade with its immediate region. Jude Blanchette, Foreign Affairs, 7 Jan. 2025 The Defense Ministry of Japan reported the Chinese naval movements near the country's territorial waters, which are measured up to 12 nautical miles from its coasts. Jason Fields, Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2024 In August, for example, the Chinese navy and air force violated Japan’s territorial waters and airspace—an escalation that was eclipsed, just weeks later, when China sailed an aircraft carrier through Japanese waters for the first time. Kyle Balzer, Foreign Affairs, 21 Nov. 2024 The intrusion came after a Japanese destroyer sailed into Chinese territorial waters on July 4. Ryan Chan, Newsweek, 20 Nov. 2024 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

Dictionary Entries Near territorial waters

Cite this Entry

“Territorial waters.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/territorial%20waters. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.

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

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