territorial waters

[ter-i-tawr-ee-uhl waw-terz, wot-erz]

plural noun

International Law.

1. 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).

territorial waters

plural noun

1. the waters over which a nation exercises jurisdiction and control

Word History and Origins

Origin of territorial waters¹

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

Nor does the right to life change depending on whether killings took place in territorial waters or on the high seas.

From Salon

This means that at its narrowest point, the Strait of Hormuz and its shipping lanes lie entirely within Iran and Oman's territorial waters.

From BBC

The exclusive economic zone is an area beyond a country's territorial waters where that country has exclusive rights to explore and exploit marine resources, but other countries are allowed freedom of navigation through it.

From BBC

Jonathan Malaya says his government has made a formal diplomatic protest every week to the Chinese Embassy over the presence of its ships in what the Philippines views as the territorial waters of Pagasa.

From BBC

Ukraine exports 70% of its grain down the Black Sea coast, through Romanian territorial waters, towards Istanbul.

From BBC