territorial waters: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Technical, Legal, Political
Quick answer
What does “territorial waters” mean?
The area of sea adjacent to a country's coast that is legally considered part of its territory, typically extending up to 12 nautical miles from the baseline.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The area of sea adjacent to a country's coast that is legally considered part of its territory, typically extending up to 12 nautical miles from the baseline.
In international law, the belt of coastal waters extending at most 12 nautical miles from the baseline of a coastal state, over which the state has sovereignty (including over airspace and seabed), except for the right of innocent passage for foreign vessels. Sometimes used informally to denote any area a person or entity claims control over.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is identical in both varieties. The concept and its legal definition are standardized by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Differences arise only in discussions of specific national claims.
Connotations
Neutral legal/geopolitical term in both. May carry connotations of sovereignty disputes, resource conflicts, or national security in specific contexts.
Frequency
Equal frequency in relevant formal/political contexts in both UK and US English.
Grammar
How to Use “territorial waters” in a Sentence
[Country/State]'s territorial watersterritorial waters of [Country/State]inside/outside/within/beyond the territorial watersextend/claim/violate/patrol + territorial watersVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “territorial waters” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The act does not permit one to territorialise waters beyond the limit.
- The navy's role is to deter attempts to violate our sovereign maritime space.
American English
- The state sought to territorialize the adjacent seabed.
- Coast Guard cutters are tasked with enforcing laws in our maritime jurisdiction.
adverb
British English
- The vessel was operating territoriality, just inside the limit. (Rare/Formal)
- The law applies territorial-ly within the 12-mile zone. (Hypothetical, rare)
American English
- The ship was sailing territoriality. (Rare/Formal)
- Jurisdiction is exercised territorial-ly. (Hypothetical, rare)
adjective
British English
- The territorial sea claim is undisputed.
- A territorial waters dispute arose over fishing rights.
American English
- The territorial waters boundary was clearly charted.
- They were fined for a territorial waters violation.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Relevant in shipping, offshore energy, fishing, and marine insurance contracts; e.g., 'The insurance premium is higher for transit within disputed territorial waters.'
Academic
Used in international law, political science, geography, and environmental studies; e.g., 'The study examines historic claims to territorial waters in the South China Sea.'
Everyday
Rare. Might appear in news reports about maritime incidents or disputes; e.g., 'The government protested after the foreign ship entered its territorial waters.'
Technical
Precise legal definition from UNCLOS; specific rules on innocent passage, contiguous zones, and baseline measurements are discussed.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “territorial waters”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “territorial waters”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “territorial waters”
- Using singular 'water' (incorrect: 'territorial water').
- Confusing it with 'Exclusive Economic Zone' (EEZ), which extends to 200 nautical miles and concerns resource rights, not full sovereignty.
- Misspelling 'territorial'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the standard limit is 12 nautical miles (approx. 22.2 km) measured from the coastal baseline.
Yes, foreign vessels have the right of 'innocent passage' through territorial waters, meaning they can sail through continuously and expeditiously without threatening the peace or security of the coastal state.
Territorial waters are under the sovereignty of a coastal state. International waters (or the 'high seas') are beyond any national jurisdiction and are governed by international law.
UNCLOS sets 12 nautical miles as the standard maximum. Claims beyond this are generally not recognised under international law and often lead to diplomatic disputes.
The area of sea adjacent to a country's coast that is legally considered part of its territory, typically extending up to 12 nautical miles from the baseline.
Territorial waters is usually formal, technical, legal, political in register.
Territorial waters: in British English it is pronounced /ˌtɛr.ɪˈtɔː.rɪ.əl ˈwɔː.təz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌter.ɪˈtɔːr.i.əl ˈwɑː.t̬ɚz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Not a figurative idiom; no direct equivalents]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a country's 'water territory' – the sea version of its land borders, where its laws 'wash' ashore for 12 nautical miles.
Conceptual Metaphor
WATERS ARE TERRITORY (The sea is conceptualized as an extension of national land, subject to ownership and control).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary legal difference between 'territorial waters' and an 'Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)'?