navigable waters

noun phrase

1. Rivers, lakes, canals, seas, or other bodies of water deep and wide enough for boats or ships to travel on.

   B1

   plural

   • "Small boats can travel on the navigable waters of the river."B1
   • "The bridge was built high enough to allow ships to pass through the navigable waters below."B2

2. In legal or official use, bodies of water recognized as available for navigation, often subject to special rules or government authority.

   C1

   formal

   • "The company must obtain a permit before placing structures in navigable waters."C1
   • "The legal definition of navigable waters varies between jurisdictions and may include certain wetlands and tributaries."C2