Coast Guard

American

noun

U.S. Military. a military service under the Department of Transportation, which in peacetime enforces maritime laws, saves lives and property at sea, and maintains aids to navigation, and which in wartime may be placed under the Navy Department to augment the navy.
(lowercase) any similar organization for aiding navigation, preventing smuggling, etc.
Also called coastguardsman. (lowercase) a member of any such organization.

Etymology

Origin of Coast Guard

First recorded in 1825–35

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.

The bill would provide funding for the TSA, the Coast Guard and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, among other agencies.

From Barron's • Mar. 27, 2026

The Coast Guard Island in San Francisco’s Bay Area “houses Pacific Area Command, the headquarters directing all Coast Guard operations across the Pacific basin,” which “depends on Bay Area refinery and terminal infrastructure.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 19, 2026

Heavy weather in the North Pacific, including strong winds and rough seas near the Aleutian Islands, contributed to the loss and damage of the containers aboard the vessel, Coast Guard Petty Officer Roberto Nieves said.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 19, 2026

Lewandowski reportedly walked into the cockpit of the Coast Guard plane as it was ascending and demanded to know where Noem's blanket was.

From BBC • Mar. 6, 2026

When the Coast Guard came for them, they took the Cubans to Miami and sent him back to Haiti.

From "Krik? Krak!" by Edwidge Danticat

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023