Meaning & use
marine life
Last updated
Meaning
noununcountable
All the animals, plants and other living things that live in the sea.
Grammar: Uncountable and takes a singular verb: marine life is diverse. You cannot say a marine life.
Patterns
- protect marine life
- marine life in something
Coral reefs support an astonishing variety of marine life.
Plastic waste in the ocean is harming marine life.
We watched the colorful marine life while snorkeling off the coast.
Common combinations
- abundant marine life
- The bay has abundant marine life, including seals and dolphins.
- protect marine life
- Laws were passed to protect marine life from oil spills.
- diverse marine life
- The Pacific coast is home to diverse marine life.
- harm marine life
- Loud noise can harm marine life.
- marine life sanctuary
- The government created a new marine life sanctuary.
Synonyms and how they differ
- sea life
- Sea life is a plainer, more everyday phrase, while marine life sounds slightly more scientific.
- ocean life
- Ocean life refers to the open ocean and may feel less suitable for coastal or inland seas.
- aquatic life
- Aquatic life includes freshwater creatures too, so it is broader than marine life.
- marine organisms
- Marine organisms is more technical and used in biology.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: marine life or maritime?
marine life vs maritime
Maritime relates to sea travel and trade, such as maritime law, whereas marine life refers to living things in the sea.
Practice
Divers were amazed by the ____ living on the coral reef.
Choose one answer.
Marine life means the living things in the sea. Maritime law is about shipping rules, and a marina office is a harbor building.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “marine life”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.