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territorial waters

[ ter-i-tawr-ee-uhl waw-terz, wot-erz ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

plural noun

International Law.

the waters of a coastal state or nation that are regarded as under the jurisdiction of the state or nation, traditionally within 3 miles (4.8 km) of the shore, but with claims by certain coastal nations that have extended to 12 or even 200 miles (20 or 322 km). Compare high sea ( def 1 ), marginal sea ( def 2 ).

territorial waters

plural noun

the waters over which a nation exercises jurisdiction and control

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Word History and Origins

Origin of territorial waters¹

First recorded in 1870–75

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Canadians counter that the Americans have higher catch limits and are surreptitiously fishing in their territorial waters.

From

The country, once one of the poorest nations in the western hemisphere, and a former British colony, has been enjoying a surge in wealth since it first discovered oil in its territorial waters in 2015.

From

The cables - one linking Sweden to Lithuania and the other between Finland and Germany - were damaged in Swedish territorial waters in the Baltic Sea on 17 and 18 November.

From

The cables - one linking Sweden to Lithuania, the other linking Finland to Germany - were damaged in Swedish territorial waters in the Baltic Sea on 17 and 18 November.

From

Muizzu’s administration also announced that it would not renew a hydrographic survey agreement with India that was signed by the previous government to map the seabed in Maldivian territorial waters.

From

territorialize Territorian

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