Panama Canal

American  

noun

1. a canal extending southeast from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean across the Isthmus of Panama. 40 miles (64 kilometers) long.

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Panama Canal British  

noun

1. a canal across the Isthmus of Panama, linking the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans: extends from Colón on the Caribbean Sea southeast to Balboa on the Gulf of Panama; built by the US (1904–14), after an unsuccessful previous attempt (1880–89) by the French under de Lesseps. Length: 64 km (40 miles)

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Panama Canal Cultural  

1. Waterway across the Isthmus of Panama. The canal connects the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. The United States built it from 1904 to 1914 on territory leased from Panama.

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Conflict between the United States and Panama has centered on control of the canal; a treaty was signed in 1977 returning control of the Canal Zone to Panama in 2000. Since that time, Panama has agreed to neutral operation of the canal.

Example Sentences

Both men were imperialists who saw the uncompleted Panama Canal as key to U.S. power.

From Barron's • Jun. 5, 2026

Tanker traffic through the Panama Canal is also increasing, hitting the highest level in at least five years in late March.

From MarketWatch • May 19, 2026

The war in the Middle East has prompted a surge in ships utilising the Panama Canal, an executive for the waterway said Monday.

From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026

Unlike cargo moving from the Atlantic Basin or the Middle East, Alaska LNG doesn’t transit through the Panama Canal and thus doesn’t face canal congestion, water-level restrictions or geopolitical turmoil during passage.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 13, 2026

In 1942, Barbara had transferred from Carleton to Radcliffe, but in 1944, she signed up to serve in the Panama Canal Zone.

From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield