Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

watercraft

American  
[waw-ter-kraft, -krahft, wot-er-] / ˈwɔ tərˌkræft, -ˌkrɑft, ˈwɒt ər- /

noun

  • watercrafts,
    plural
  • watercraft
    plural
  1. skill in boating and water sports.

  2. any boat or ship.

  3. boats and ships collectively.


watercraft British  
/ ˈwɔːtəˌkrɑːft /

noun

  1. a boat or ship or such vessels collectively

  2. skill in handling boats or in water sports

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms


Etymology

Origin of watercraft

First recorded in 1560–70; water + craft


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

At nearly 13 feet long and more than 1,500 pounds, Yamaha’s new CrossWave is the largest and heaviest production personal watercraft on the market.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 10, 2026

Designed to bridge the gap between watercraft and a fishing vessel, Yamaha’s CrossWave is a big, brawny, outrageous machine.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 10, 2026

Outside, there are two docks for watercraft of any kind, plus a heated pool, and a gorgeous, water-facing patio.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 27, 2025

It’s a great spot to camp for anyone wanting to kayak or canoe, as the lake has a 10-mph speed limit for watercraft.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 10, 2025

Every day there were fewer people wading, fewer faces in windows, fewer private watercraft like his.

From "Zeitoun" by Dave Eggers

Mid and East Antrim Council said people would be unable to launch personal watercrafts such as kayaks, canoes and paddleboards from the slipway at Portglenone Marina.

From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2023

Also on hand: 2,400 vehicles — including “high mobility and high-water” vehicles plus 14 strategically placed helicopters and 23 small watercrafts ready to perform search-and-rescue and reconnaissance missions, the statement said.

From Washington Times ● Aug. 30, 2023

High-quality rented watercrafts fare better than cheap gear bought in stores at a lower price.

From Seattle Times ● Jul. 27, 2022

Twichell led in the early laps but fell off the pace as a small armada of motorboats, personal watercrafts and kayaks followed the swimmers around each lap.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2021

Some highlights: DAY 3: Ventura, owner of five waverunners, lambastes legislation--passed last year with overwhelming support--regulating the noisy watercrafts.

From Time Magazine Archive

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

Get a word


Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Look it up. Learn it forever.

Remember new words for good with VocabTrainer. Expand your vocabulary effortlessly with personalized learning tools that adapt to your goals.

Take me to Vocabulary.com