high seas
Definition
- Noun (plural):
- International waters: "high seas" refers to all parts of the ocean that are not included in the territorial sea, internal waters, or exclusive economic zone of any country. These areas are open to all nations and are not subject to the sovereignty of any single state.
Usage Examples
- (International waters beyond any country's jurisdiction.)
- (Criminal acts occurring in international waters.)
- (Open ocean areas not controlled by any nation.)
Advanced Usage
- "on the high seas": a formal or legal phrase used to describe activities occurring in international waters.
- The treaty governs military exercises on the high seas. (Regulations for activities in international waters.)
- "freedom of the high seas": a principle of international law allowing all states to use the high seas for navigation, fishing, and other lawful purposes.
- The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea upholds the freedom of the high seas. (The right to use international waters freely.)
Variants and Related Words
- High-seas (adj): relating to or occurring on the high seas.
- High-seas fishing regulations are enforced by international bodies. (Rules for fishing in international waters.)
- High seas fleet: a historical term for a navy's main battle fleet operating in open oceans.
- The German High Seas Fleet was a major force in World War I. (A naval fleet designed for open-ocean warfare.)
Synonyms
- International waters: the same concept, often used interchangeably in legal contexts.
- Open ocean: a broader term for any ocean area away from land, but not necessarily beyond national jurisdiction.
Related Idioms
- "the high seas": used idiomatically to suggest vast, uncontrolled, or lawless spaces.
- In the world of online data, privacy is like the high seas — unregulated and dangerous. (A metaphorical comparison to lawless international waters.)
Phrasal Verbs (None directly applicable)
- No common phrasal verbs are formed with "high seas."