Coast Guard

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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.

(lowercase)Also called coastguardsman. a member of any such organization.

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Origin of Coast Guard

First recorded in 1825–35

Words nearby Coast Guard

coastal plain, coast artillery, coasteering, coaster, coaster brake, Coast Guard, coast-guard cutter, coastguardsman, coasting lead, coasting trade, coasting wagon

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use Coast Guard in a sentence

Coast Guard officials believed the oil spill would reach the coast Monday, but by early Sunday afternoon, oil was already surrounding anchored boats.
What we know—and don’t know—about the Huntington Beach oil spill|Sara Kiley Watson|October 10, 2021|Popular-Science
Over the course of my 40-year Coast Guard career we’ve seen a 31 to 32% reduction in the amount of ice in the Arctic.
Why a Warming Arctic Has the U.S. Coast Guard Worried About the Rest of the Country|Aryn Baker|September 13, 2021|Time
The action began shortly before 1 pm, when we met a 45-foot-long Coast Guard boat below us.
What it’s like to rescue someone at sea from a Coast Guard helicopter|Rob Verger|July 20, 2021|Popular-Science
If it was diesel, the fuel would disappear within half a day or so, Adam Stanton, a spokesman for Coast Guard San Diego, told Voice of San Diego.
Decoding Marine Oil Spills Requires Slick Detective Work|MacKenzie Elmer|July 6, 2021|Voice of San Diego

The residences once housed Coast Guard personnel stationed on the islands.
How the Deals Approved by Congress Bypassed Thousands of Hawaiians Waiting for Homes|by Rob Perez, Honolulu Star-Advertiser|May 7, 2021|ProPublica
A guard is manning the door, which is always kept ajar so she can be monitored.
Should Teens Have The Right To Die?|Brandy Zadrozny|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Groups like the Crips and MS-13 have spread from coast to coast, and even abroad.
The Daily Beast’s Best Longreads, Dec 29-Jan 4, 2014|William Boot|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Three years ago, Republican Guard soldiers came into the hills and killed a cleric accused of hosting Jundullah fighters.
The Dangerous Drug-Funded Secret War Between Iran and Pakistan|Umar Farooq|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
One of the honor guard approached with slow, measured steps and presented the flag to a uniformed captain.
Choking Back Tears, Thousands of Cops Honor Fallen Officer Ramos|Michael Daly|December 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The government continues to call for calm while warning people to be on their guard.
France’s Wave of Crazy-Terror Christmas Attacks|Christopher Dickey|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In particular the Governor of Adinskoy offered us a guard of fifty men to the next station, if we apprehended any danger.
The Life and Most Surprising Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, of York, Mariner (1801)|Daniel Defoe
Two Battalions racing due North along the coast and foothills with levelled bayonets.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I|Ian Hamilton
On the evening of September 17th he sent away his advance guard of two thousand men in eighty small boats.
Napoleon's Marshals|R. P. Dunn-Pattison
Leaving Bruno to guard, Harry climbed the tree, and to his satisfaction had a good view of the country.
The Courier of the Ozarks|Byron A. Dunn
Every precaution was taken by Colonel Guitar to guard against a night attack, but his little army was allowed to rest in peace.
The Courier of the Ozarks|Byron A. Dunn

British Dictionary definitions for Coast Guard

coastguard

/ (ˈkəʊstˌɡɑːd) /

noun

a maritime force which aids shipping, saves lives at sea, prevents smuggling, etc

Also called: coastguardsman a member of such a force

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