sea lane

American  

noun

1. a standard navigational route for ships traversing an ocean or sea.

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sea lane British  

noun

1. an established route for ships

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Etymology

Origin of sea lane

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

The initial talks may well focus largely on Iran’s control of the Strait of Hormuz and the price Tehran sets for relaxing its grip on the vital sea lane.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 12, 2026

Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates pipelines bypass the strait, but those volumes are about 10% of the sea lane.

From Barron's • Mar. 18, 2026

An area of long-simmering disputes, the South China Sea serves a key sea lane for global trade.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 11, 2024

The shipping industry was also bracing for potential economic fallout as the Red Sea, a vital sea lane, is increasingly drawn into the regional unrest.

From New York Times • Dec. 16, 2023

And the little Revenge ran on thro' the long sea lane between.

From Public Speaking by Winter, Irvah Lester