coastal
gb/kˈoʊstəl/ us/kˈoʊstəl/
B2
English
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B2
property
1
near or on the coast
near the sea
Usage pattern:
coastal + [place/feature] (e.g., coastal town, coastal road)
Common mistake:
Do not confuse coastal (near the sea) with costal (related to ribs).
Synonyms
seaside (Often used for places connected with holidays and beaches.)
|
shoreline (More specific to the narrow edge where land meets water.)
Antonyms
inland (Away from the coast and the sea.)
Collocations
coastal town
|coastal city
|coastal village
|coastal region
|coastal area
|coastal road
|coastal highway
|coastal state
|coastal resort
|coastal communities
Themes
geography
|travel
|places
Examples
- They rented a small house in a coastal town.
- The train passes through several coastal villages on its way south.
- We took the coastal road for the best views.
Learner examples
- My grandparents live in a coastal city.
- We walked along a coastal path.
adjective
B2
property
2
relating to coasts in general
about the coast
Usage pattern:
coastal + [issue/activity/management] (e.g., coastal erosion, coastal development)
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use beach when they mean the wider coastal area (including cliffs, ports, wetlands, etc.).
Synonyms
shore (Less formal and often used in fixed phrases (e.g., onshore/offshore).)
|
maritime (More formal; often connected to shipping, the navy, or sea-based activity.)
Antonyms
landlocked (Not having a coast; surrounded by land.)
Collocations
coastal erosion
|coastal flooding
|coastal development
|coastal protection
|coastal management
|coastal habitat
|coastal waters
|coastal pollution
|coastal conservation
|coastal economy
Themes
geography
|environment
|government
Examples
- Coastal erosion is worsening after stronger winter storms.
- The report recommends new coastal protection measures.
- Local councils are planning for more coastal flooding.
Learner examples
- Coastal pollution can harm sea life.
adjective
C1
property
3
influenced by the sea
having weather affected by the sea
Usage pattern:
coastal + [weather/climate] (e.g., coastal fog, coastal climate)
Common mistake:
Coastal climate does not necessarily mean warm; it often means milder temperatures and more moisture than inland areas.
Synonyms
maritime (Common in climate descriptions; slightly more technical.)
Antonyms
continental (Climate more typical of inland areas, with larger temperature ranges.)
Collocations
coastal climate
|coastal fog
|coastal winds
|coastal storms
|coastal humidity
|coastal air
Themes
weather
|environment
Examples
- Coastal fog can roll in quickly during the afternoon.
- The area has a coastal climate with mild winters and cool summers.
- Coastal winds made the beach feel much colder.
Learner examples
- Coastal weather changes fast.
Grammar
Expressions
coastal city
1/kˈoʊstəl sˈɪti/
fixed phrase
city on the coast
a city near the sea
Examples
- The coastal city has a busy port and a long waterfront.
- Many people left the coastal city ahead of the hurricane.
coastal erosion
1/kˈoʊstəl ɪɹˈoʊʒən/
fixed phrase
technical
wearing away of coastlines
The slow loss of beaches and land next to the sea because of waves and water movement.
Examples
- The town is building sea walls to slow coastal erosion.
- Scientists say coastal erosion will increase with rising sea levels.
coastal erosion
1/kˈoʊstəl ɪɹˈoʊʒən/
fixed phrase
technical
shoreline worn away
when the sea slowly removes land from the coast
Examples
- Coastal erosion has threatened several homes on the cliff.
- The council is building sea defenses to slow coastal erosion.
coastal flooding
1/kˈoʊstəl flˈʌdɪŋ/
fixed phrase
sea water flooding land
when the sea floods land near the coast
Examples
- Warnings were issued because of possible coastal flooding overnight.
- Coastal flooding damaged roads and homes near the harbor.
coastal management
1/kˈoʊstəl mˈænɪd͡ʒmənt/
fixed phrase
technical
planning and protecting coasts
ways to plan and protect coastal areas
Examples
- The region introduced a new coastal management strategy.
- Coastal management aims to balance tourism, wildlife, and safety.
coastal plain
1/kˈoʊstəl plˈeɪn/
fixed phrase
technical
flat land near coast
a flat area of land near the sea
Examples
- Farms spread across the coastal plain behind the dunes.
- The river forms wetlands where it reaches the coastal plain.
coastal road
1/kˈoʊstəl ɹˈoʊd/
fixed phrase
road running by the sea
a road next to the sea
Examples
- We drove the coastal road to avoid the traffic inland.
- The coastal road was closed after a landslide.
coastal town
1/kˈoʊstəl tˈaʊn/
fixed phrase
town near the sea
a town near the sea
Examples
- They moved to a coastal town for a quieter life.
- The coastal town depends on fishing and tourism.
coastal waters
1/kˈoʊstəl wˈɔtɚz/
fixed phrase
sea close to land
the sea near the coast
Examples
- Dolphins are often seen in these coastal waters.
- The ship remained in coastal waters because of the storm.