Solent

American

[soh-luhnt] / ˈsoʊ lənt /

noun

The, a channel between the Isle of Wight and the mainland of S England. 2–5 miles (3.2–8 km) wide.

Solent British

/ ˈsəʊlənt /

noun

a strait of the English Channel between the coast of Hampshire, on the English mainland, and the Isle of Wight. Width: up to 6 km (4 miles)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Just three universities are putting their name publicly to the legal action - Bath Spa, Southampton Solent and London Metropolitan.

From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026

He had been selected by Reform to stand in the first Hampshire and Solent mayoral election.

From BBC • Mar. 24, 2026

He told BBC Radio Solent after Saturday's defeat that there was not an "instant fix" for the side after another loss.

From BBC • Nov. 2, 2025

Former Bournemouth defender Joe Partington told BBC Radio Solent a few months later: "He's a standout player. He's involved in moments that define the outcomes of games."

From BBC • Jun. 26, 2025

An enormous French fleet was attempting to invade England by sailing up the Solent Strait and overpowering the British fleet and the naval facilities at Portsmouth.

From "Shipwrecked!" by Martin W. Sandler

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023