high seas

British  

plural noun

1. (sometimes singular) the open seas of the world, outside the jurisdiction of any one nation

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high seas Idioms  

1. Open waters of an ocean or sea, beyond the territorial jurisdiction of a country. For example, Commercial fishermen are being forced to go out on the high seas in order to make a living. [c. 1100]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

high seas

In Akwa Ibom state, operatives acting on credible intelligence intercepted a wooden boat on the high seas last Friday, which was heading to Cameroon, and arrested three people on board.

From BBC ● Aug. 24, 2026

The text specifies that a procedure different to immediate returns at the border applies to those "intercepted on the high seas" because those migrants do not breach physical infrastructure.

From Barron's ● Aug. 6, 2026

“Chinese activities in the high seas are fully consistent with international law and international practice,” Lin Jian, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, said Tuesday.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026

Del Castillo blamed the Mexican government for being largely “negligent” when it comes to policing coastal areas and the high seas.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 20, 2026

Ever since America had won her freedom from England, she had to fight for her rights on the high seas.

From "Carry On, Mr. Bowditch" by Jean Lee Latham