Panama Canal

American  

noun

1. a canal extending southeast from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean across the Isthmus of Panama. 40 miles (64 kilometers) long.

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Panama Canal British  

noun

1. a canal across the Isthmus of Panama, linking the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans: extends from Colón on the Caribbean Sea southeast to Balboa on the Gulf of Panama; built by the US (1904–14), after an unsuccessful previous attempt (1880–89) by the French under de Lesseps. Length: 64 km (40 miles)

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Panama Canal Cultural  

1. Waterway across the Isthmus of Panama. The canal connects the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. The United States built it from 1904 to 1914 on territory leased from Panama.

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Conflict between the United States and Panama has centered on control of the canal; a treaty was signed in 1977 returning control of the Canal Zone to Panama in 2000. Since that time, Panama has agreed to neutral operation of the canal.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Panama Canal

Decline of inflows into the Panama Canal’s watershed below the historical average during the current hydrological year, which started in May, according to the Panama Canal Authority.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026

The Panama Canal greatly reduces the time and distance ships have to travel between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026

The conglomerate alleged Panama breached an investment treaty through measures that resulted in the country taking over two Panama Canal terminals.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026

From September 3, the number of vessels allowed through the canal each day will be reduced due to a lack of rain, the Panama Canal Authority said.

From Barron's ● Aug. 20, 2026

The Panama Canal client came in at four-thirty.

From "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith