canal: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral to formal in technical contexts, neutral in everyday use.
Quick answer
What does “canal” mean?
A man-made waterway constructed to allow the passage of boats and ships or to transport water for irrigation and other uses.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A man-made waterway constructed to allow the passage of boats and ships or to transport water for irrigation and other uses.
A tubular duct or channel in the body of a plant or animal; also, a narrow, defined band of frequencies in radio or television broadcasting (e.g., 'canalize').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. In both varieties, 'canal' refers primarily to man-made waterways. Minor differences may exist in local canal names or associated infrastructure terms (e.g., 'towpath' is common in UK).
Connotations
In the UK, 'canal' strongly connotes the historical, narrow industrial canals used for transportation during the Industrial Revolution, now often used for leisure. In the US, it can connote larger irrigation or shipping canals (e.g., Erie Canal, Panama Canal) and is less tied to a specific historical period.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in UK English due to the extensive network of historic canals and their cultural presence. In US English, it is common but more geographically specific.
Grammar
How to Use “canal” in a Sentence
[Verb] a canal: build, construct, dig, dredge, widen, crossThe canal [Verb]: runs, flows, connects, links, passesVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “canal” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The engineers plan to canalise the river to prevent flooding.
- The project aimed to canal the water from the reservoir.
American English
- The engineers plan to canalize the river to prevent flooding.
- They needed to canal the irrigation flow more efficiently.
adjective
British English
- The canal towpath is popular with walkers.
- They own a narrow canal boat.
American English
- The canal system is crucial for irrigation.
- We took a canal tour in Venice.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to logistics and shipping routes (e.g., 'Suez Canal traffic').
Academic
Used in history, geography, engineering, and anatomy (e.g., 'the vertebral canal', 'canal building projects').
Everyday
Refers to local waterways for walking, cycling, or boating.
Technical
In anatomy: 'root canal', 'alimentary canal'. In engineering: 'lock gates', 'canalized river'.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “canal”
- Using 'canal' to mean a natural river (incorrect).
- Mispronunciation: stressing the first syllable /ˈkæn.əl/ (common error) instead of /kəˈnæl/.
- Confusing 'canal' with 'channel' in broadcasting contexts.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A canal is an artificial, human-made waterway constructed for a specific purpose like transport or irrigation. A river is a natural flowing watercourse.
Yes, though it's less common. The verb form is 'to canal' or more frequently 'to canalize' (US) / 'canalise' (UK), meaning to convert a river into a canal or to channel something into a specific direction.
A 'canal' is always artificial. A 'channel' can be natural (e.g., the English Channel) or artificial (e.g., a drainage channel). 'Channel' also has many other meanings (TV, communication, etc.) which 'canal' does not share in modern English.
Learners often mistakenly stress the first syllable (CAN-al), like the word 'can'. The correct pronunciation stresses the second syllable: /kə-NAL/.
A man-made waterway constructed to allow the passage of boats and ships or to transport water for irrigation and other uses.
Canal is usually neutral to formal in technical contexts, neutral in everyday use. in register.
Canal: in British English it is pronounced /kəˈnæl/, and in American English it is pronounced /kəˈnæl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Canal of thought (rare, metaphorical: a narrow, directed line of thinking)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a CAN on a small barge floating down a NARROW waterway – CAN-AL.
Conceptual Metaphor
A CANAL is a CONDUIT FOR FLOW (of water, traffic, information, or bodily fluids).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'canal' LEAST appropriate?