parasailing

American  

[par-uh-sey-ling] / ˈpær əˌseɪ lɪŋ /

Or para-sailing

noun

1. the sport of soaring while harnessed to a parasail that is towed by a motorboat, car, or other fast-moving vehicle, from which one often releases oneself to float freely.

---

parasailing British  

/ ˈpærəˌseɪlɪŋ /

noun

1. a sport in which a water-skier wearing a parachute is towed by a speedboat, becomes airborne, and sails along in the air

---

Etymology

Origin of parasailing

para- ³ + sailing

Example Sentences

In the early 1990s, he got into parasailing, strapping tourists into parachutes and towing them behind a speed boat.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 24, 2026

But the top submarine tour in the United States, according to a search on Trip Advisor, will run you about as much as an afternoon of parasailing, at just $171.31 per adult.

From Slate • Jun. 20, 2023

For their first date almost two years ago, Ekeler surprised her by taking her parasailing.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 26, 2022

The lawsuit claims the company failed to properly train the captain and first mate, did not equip the boat with proper safety and parasailing equipment and operated the boat in unsafe weather conditions.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 29, 2022

Beyond them, a catamaran and some parasailing boats bob in the distance, anchored and bright like candies.

From "Merci Suárez Changes Gears" by Meg Medina