coastal

American  

[kohs-tl] / ˈkoʊs tl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, bordering on, or located near a coast.

   The coastal regions are inundated at high tide.

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Other Word Forms

• coastally
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of coastal

First recorded in 1880–85; coast + -al ¹

Explanation

Coastal things are near the ocean. If you like spending time at the beach, you might take a trip to a sunny, coastal vacation spot. Be sure to pack your swimsuit! You might read phrases like "coastal waters" or "coastal erosion" in an environmental science textbook. The coast is the land that borders an ocean or sea, and the adjective coastal describes things that affect the coast or are located there. Before it meant "edge of the land," coast referred to a body part—specifically, the rib or "flank."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

coastal

Rain is likely in parts of western Scotland and Northern Ireland later, with gales in coastal districts.

From BBC ● Sep. 22, 2026

The singer said he was in a Miami hotel while writing the song, strumming his guitar and admiring the coastal view.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 21, 2026

Together, these fossils suggest that the ancient coastal environments of the region supported complex and highly diverse dinosaur ecosystems.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 19, 2026

That brings more rain and storms to the southern U.S., flooding and coastal erosion to California, and severe thunderstorms to the Gulf states.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026

Earlier that year, the Coast Guard had spotted the I’m Alone in the Gulf of Mexico, sailing in coastal lanes that rumrunners often used.

From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield

Related Words

• marshy
• seaside