Northwest Passage

American  

noun

1. a ship route along the Arctic coast of Canada and Alaska, joining the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

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Northwest Passage British  

noun

1. the passage by sea from the Atlantic to the Pacific along the N coast of America: attempted for over 300 years by Europeans seeking a short route to the Far East, before being successfully navigated by Amundsen (1903–06)

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Northwest Passage Cultural  

1. A sea route from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean through northwestern America, often sought by early explorers. There is an actual Northwest Passage, but it requires sailing through far northern waters that are icebound much of the year.

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Etymology

Origin of Northwest Passage

First recorded in 1545–55

Example Sentences

Traversing the Northwest Passage would save shippers an estimated two weeks compared with the Panama Canal.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 30, 2025

They have sailed through the treacherous, sometimes alien landscape of the Northwest Passage between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, gathering fresh data about climate change in the region.

From BBC • Aug. 25, 2024

The Northwest Passage, which connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans through the Arctic Ocean in Canada, has lacked ice in the summertime in recent years, they said.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 5, 2024

Next week, along with four other experienced kayakers, Mr. Hansen will embark on a journey to paddle the Northwest Passage.

From New York Times • Jun. 23, 2023

Until 1794 ships sought a Northwest Passage, but none was to be found.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton