sea lane

noun

1. a standard navigational route for ships traversing an ocean or sea.

sea lane

noun

1. an established route for ships

Word History and Origins

Origin of sea lane¹

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

An area of long-simmering disputes, the South China Sea serves a key sea lane for global trade.

From Seattle Times

That's not far from Yemen, where the pro-Iranian Houthis now control much of the nation and have recently interrupted international sea lanes, resulting in air strikes by U.S. and British planes.

From Salon

The strikes were intended to degrade the Iran-backed militants’ ability to attack ships in sea lanes that are critical for global trade, a campaign they have carried out for almost four months.

From New York Times

The strikes signaled that the Biden administration intends to wage a sustained and, at least for now, open-ended campaign against the Iran-backed group that has disrupted traffic in vital international sea lanes.

From New York Times

The shipping industry was also bracing for potential economic fallout as the Red Sea, a vital sea lane, is increasingly drawn into the regional unrest.

From New York Times