waterway

waterway — noun

1. a water route, for example a river or a canal, that boats and ships use to carry

1.nounB2
Definition

a water route, for example a river or a canal, that boats and ships use to carry people or goods between different places

Example

The old canal network was once the main waterway for transporting goods across the country.

waterway + for + gerund (purpose)

Ryo took his small boat through the narrow waterway that connects the two lakes.

Common collocations
  • busy waterway
  • inland waterway
  • major waterway
  • narrow waterway
  • navigable waterway
  • main waterway
  • natural waterway
  • deepen a waterway
  • use a waterway
  • along the waterway
  • by waterway
Synonyms
  • channel

    a narrower waterway, often connecting two larger bodies of water; can be natural or dredged

  • canal

    an artificial waterway, built specifically for boats or irrigation

  • seaway

    a deep waterway used by large ocean-going ships, often connecting seas or oceans

Usage Note

Often used in geography, transport planning, or official documents rather than in everyday conversation. In casual speech, speakers usually name the specific type of water (river, canal, channel) instead of using the general term waterway.

Common Mistakes

We went swimming in the waterway near the park.
We went swimming in the river near the park.
waterways are transport routes for boats, not general recreational swimming areas.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Waterway is the broadest of these terms, covering any navigable body of water — natural or artificial — used for transport. A channel is typically a narrower passage that connects two larger bodies of water (e.g. the English Channel); it may be natural or man-made through dredging. A canal is always deliberately built by people, often for moving goods, water, or both. A seaway is a deep, wide route designed for ocean-going ships, such as the St. Lawrence Seaway. In practice: 'The Mississippi River is a major waterway for grain shipments.' — waterway highlights the transport role. 'They dug a canal to link the factory to the river.' — canal signals human construction. 'The tanker passed through the narrow channel.' — channel implies a constrained passage.

waterway ↗channel ↗canal ↗seaway

Common collocations

Phrases

  • by waterway

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishModern English

Waterway is a compound of water (from Old English wæter) and way (from Old English weg, meaning path or route). The word has been used since the Middle English period to describe a stretch of water used as a travel route for boats.