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territorial waters
[ ter-i-tawr-ee-uhl waw-terz, wot-erz ]
/ ˈtɛr ɪˌtɔr i əl ˈwɔ tərz, ˈwɒt ərz /
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plural noun International Law.
the waters of a coastal state or nation that are regarded as under the jurisdiction of the state or nation, traditionally within 3 miles (4.8 km) of the shore, but with claims by certain coastal nations that have extended to 12 or even 200 miles (20 or 322 km).Compare high sea (def. 1), marginal sea (def. 2).
QUIZ
THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?
Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.
Question 1 of 7
In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…
Also called marine belt.
Origin of territorial waters
First recorded in 1870–75
Words nearby territorial waters
Territorial Army, territorial court, territorialism, territoriality, territorialize, territorial waters, Territorian, territory, territory wool, terroir, terror
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use territorial waters in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for territorial waters
territorial waters
pl n
the waters over which a nation exercises jurisdiction and control
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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