Meaning & use
coastal
Last updated
Meaning
adjectivebefore a noun
Relating to or situated on the coast, the land next to the sea.
Grammar: Used before a noun: coastal town, coastal waters. It does not stand alone as a noun.
Patterns
- coastal area
- coastal town
- coastal waters
They spent their vacation in a small coastal town.
Coastal erosion is a serious problem in many regions.
The coastal road offers beautiful views of the ocean.
Common combinations
- coastal area
- The coastal area is prone to flooding during storms.
- coastal waters
- Fishing is restricted in these coastal waters.
- coastal town
- We visited a charming coastal town on the Mediterranean.
- coastal erosion
- Coastal erosion has caused cliffs to crumble.
Synonyms and how they differ
- seaside
- Often used for vacation spots by the sea; coastal is more general and can describe geography or industry.
- littoral
- Technical term for the shore area; coastal is the everyday word.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: coastal or costal?
coastal vs costal
Sounds similar but means relating to the ribs (e.g., costal cartilage). Coastal is about the coast.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence.
Choose one answer.
'Coastal' is an adjective used before a noun, so 'coastal village' is correct. Option B uses it as a noun; option C uses it as a noun; option D uses the noun 'coast' where the adjective 'coastal' is needed.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “coastal”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.