strait

American  

[streyt] / streɪt /

noun

1. (used with a singular verb) Often straits. a narrow passage of water connecting two large bodies of water.

2. Often straits. a position of difficulty, distress, or need.

   Ill and penniless, he was in sad straits indeed.

   Synonyms:

   plight, predicament, dilemma, pinch, exigency

   Antonyms:

   ease

3. Archaic. a narrow passage or area.

4. an isthmus.

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adjective

Archaic.

1. narrow.

   Strait is the gate.

2. affording little space; confined in area.

3. strict, as in requirements or principles.

strait British  

/ streɪt /

noun

1. (often plural)

   1. a narrow channel of the sea linking two larger areas of sea

   2. ( capital as part of a name )

      the Strait of Gibraltar

2. (often plural) a position of acute difficulty (often in the phrase in dire or desperate straits )

3. archaic a narrow place or passage

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adjective

1. (of spaces, etc) affording little room

2. (of circumstances, etc) limiting or difficult

3. severe, strict, or scrupulous

strait Scientific  

/ strāt /

1. A narrow waterway joining two larger bodies of water. The Strait of Gibraltar, for example, connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Atlantic Ocean.

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Related Words

See emergency.

Other Word Forms

• straitly adverb
• straitness noun

Etymology

Origin of strait

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English streit “narrow, a strait,” from Old French estreit “narrow, tight,” from Latin strictus, past participle of stringere “to tighten, bind”; strain ¹

Example Sentences

On Thursday, the British-led virtual meeting of dozens of nations will "assess all viable diplomatic and political measures that we can take to restore freedom of navigation" in the strait, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said.

From Barron's • Apr. 2, 2026

Tehran has called its 19 islands in the 100-mile strait aircraft carriers, installing radar systems, airstrips and fuel depots, missile systems and naval launches for submarines and fast-attack boats.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 2, 2026

It’s worth recalling that the strait was open before the war started.

From Slate • Apr. 2, 2026

A global risk would be that Iran embraces the tolls it recently started charging for each tanker passing through the strait as a new, lucrative income stream, he said.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 2, 2026

I used all of my willpower to keep the ship from capsizing, but we were still spinning out of control, hurtling toward the cliffs on the opposite side of the strait.

From "The Sea of Monsters" by Rick Riordan

Related Words

• predicament