estuary
noun
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A partly enclosed coastal body of water in which river water is mixed with seawater is called an estuary. An estuary is thus defined by salinity rather than geography. Many coastal features designated by other names are in fact estuaries (for instance, Chesapeake Bay). Some of the oldest continuous civilizations have flourished in estuarine environments (for example, the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, the Nile delta, and the Ganges delta). Cities such as London (Thames River), New York (Hudson River), and Montreal (St. Lawrence River) developed on estuaries and became important commercial centers.
Synonyms
Examples of estuary in a Sentence
Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2025
The Delta is the largest estuary on the West Coast, one that is incredibly sensitive environmentally and politically.
—Heather Knight, New York Times, 24 Jan. 2025
Adding more ferry stops within Jamaica Bay and waterways around the estuary will serve all New Yorkers, particularly South Brooklyn and Queens residents, during this shutdown and far into the future.
—Terri Carta, New York Daily News, 14 Jan. 2025
Located an hour’s drive south of the city, this outfit takes oyster lovers out into the beautiful ACE Basin estuary on a 20-foot skiff.
—Lauren Mowery, AFAR Media, 13 Dec. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Estuary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/estuary. Accessed 13 Feb. 2025.
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estuary
noun
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