marina

¹ American  

[muh-ree-nuh] / məˈri nə /

noun

1. a boat basin offering dockage and other service for small craft.

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Marina ² American  

[muh-ree-nuh] / məˈri nə /

noun

1. a town in W California.

2. a female given name.

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marina British  

/ məˈriːnə /

noun

1. an elaborate docking facility for pleasure boats

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Etymology

Origin of marina

1795–1805; < Italian, Spanish, noun use of feminine of marino < Latin marīnus marine

Explanation

A marina is a dock, especially a fancy one used for sailboats and yachts. If you live in a harbor town, you can walk down the marina to watch boats come and go. A marina differs from a port, which is also a harbor where boats can dock, because it's designed for small boats and yachts, rather than large ships. Seaside towns and cities often have public marinas for mooring boats, and private yacht clubs also have marinas. The word marine, which means "pertaining to the sea," can help you remember that a marina is a place where boats dock. The Latin root of both is mare, "the sea."

Example Sentences

Dubai's media office said authorities there responded to "a minor incident caused by debris from an aerial interception" that fell on a building around the marina area.

From Barron's • Apr. 4, 2026

At this one, happy hour is frequented by local folks — a few of them salty dogs from the marina nearby.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 27, 2026

The casino resort, rising on a man-made island near the Strait of Hormuz, features a superyacht marina, 1,500 rooms and 22 bars and restaurants.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026

If things stayed calm, they hoped to head back to their home by the marina by tomorrow.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 23, 2026

So it was a shock when I walked into the marina three weeks ago and he ran at me, crashing into my knees in the way he always did.

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam