watertight

[waw-ter-tahyt, wot-er-]

adjective

1. constructed or fitted so tightly as to be impervious to water.

   The ship had six watertight compartments.

2. so devised or planned as to be impossible to defeat, evade, or nullify.

   a watertight contract; a watertight alibi.

watertight

/ ˈwɔːtəˌtaɪt /

adjective

1. not permitting the passage of water either in or out

   a watertight boat

2. without loopholes

   a watertight argument

3. kept separate from other subjects or influences

   different disciplines are often thought of in watertight compartments

Other Word Forms

• watertightness noun
• nonwatertight adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of watertight¹

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; water, tight

Example Sentences

Yet, this on-off-on transfer saga is only over for now, because the deal - a loan with an obligation to buy - does not appear watertight.

From BBC

But if you want to win league titles you've got to be watertight and strong at the back, and I'm not so sure Liverpool are.

From BBC

"We worked together to make sure we had a watertight prima facie case in order to lawfully arrest Aimee Betro in a foreign country without her becoming aware and potentially fleeing again," he explained.

From BBC

But are the new rules, which are set out in the Online Safety Act watertight, or will people be able to find ways around them?

From BBC

Ms Perkins said that while the law was welcome, it was vital "to ensure the regulations are watertight and no one can be forced into silence again".

From BBC

Related Words

• immune 
• impassable 
• impenetrable 
• inaccessible 
• invulnerable 
• resistant 
• unaffected 
• unmoved