Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

watercraft

American  
[waw-ter-kraft, -krahft, wot-er-] / ˈwɔ tərˌkræft, -ˌkrɑft, ˈwɒt ər- /

noun

  • watercrafts,
    plural
  • watercraft
    plural
  1. skill in boating and water sports.

  2. any boat or ship.

  3. boats and ships collectively.


watercraft British  
/ ˈwɔːtəˌkrɑːft /

noun

  1. a boat or ship or such vessels collectively

  2. skill in handling boats or in water sports

"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

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

Etymology

Origin of watercraft

First recorded in 1560–70; water + craft

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.

See Examples For:

The Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks aims to have the watercraft on the lake before fall 2027, and possibly sooner, said General Manager Jimmy Kim.

From Los Angeles Times Aug. 13, 2026

There were several watercraft on the island when authorities visited in 2020 including one boat called the “Little C.”

From The Wall Street Journal Dec. 14, 2025

Docked at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam during the exercises was a small new watercraft designed to move equipment straight to a beach.

From The Wall Street Journal Dec. 13, 2025

Outside, there are two docks for watercraft of any kind, plus a heated pool, and a gorgeous, water-facing patio.

From MarketWatch Oct. 27, 2025

The most isolated people on Earth in recent history were the Aboriginal Tasmanians, living without oceangoing watercraft on an island 100 miles from Australia, itself the most isolated continent.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond

Administration attorneys also argued that the concrete anchors holding the buoys in place are a serious threat to watercrafts.

From Seattle Times Oct. 5, 2023

Mid and East Antrim Council said people would be unable to launch personal watercrafts such as kayaks, canoes and paddleboards from the slipway at Portglenone Marina.

From BBC Sep. 12, 2023

Also on hand: 2,400 vehicles — including “high mobility and high-water” vehicles plus 14 strategically placed helicopters and 23 small watercrafts ready to perform search-and-rescue and reconnaissance missions, the statement said.

From Washington Times Aug. 30, 2023

Twichell led in the early laps but fell off the pace as a small armada of motorboats, personal watercrafts and kayaks followed the swimmers around each lap.

From Los Angeles Times Aug. 4, 2021

Some highlights: DAY 3: Ventura, owner of five waverunners, lambastes legislation--passed last year with overwhelming support--regulating the noisy watercrafts.

From Time Magazine Archive

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Join 12,000,000 vocabulary learners

Start learning new words today on VocabTrainer.
You'll remember them forever.

Start training