: any of various recreational watercraft: such as
a
: a sailboat used for racing
b
: a large usually motor-driven craft used for pleasure cruising
Examples of yacht in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Kimberlee Speakman, People.com, 28 Sep. 2024
Surprisingly, yachts for the uber-rich are often loaded on much larger vessels and shipped to their next destination to await the arrival of their owner.
—New Atlas, 28 Sep. 2024
Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 24 Sep. 2024
From October to April, the warm temperatures and calm waters in the region make yachting a breeze, promising a smooth and enjoyable journey.
—Dubai Tourism Contributor, Forbes, 17 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for yacht 
Noun
The younger couple appeared to follow suit, drying off in the sun on another part of the yacht before putting on some more clothes and sitting on some loungers.
—Kimberlee Speakman, People.com, 28 Sep. 2024
Surprisingly, yachts for the uber-rich are often loaded on much larger vessels and shipped to their next destination to await the arrival of their owner.
—New Atlas, 28 Sep. 2024
Verb
Some were brand flagships, others new models in existing families, and even more showed innovative designs that are new to yachting.
—Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 24 Sep. 2024
From October to April, the warm temperatures and calm waters in the region make yachting a breeze, promising a smooth and enjoyable journey.
—Dubai Tourism Contributor, Forbes, 17 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for yacht
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'yacht.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near yacht
Cite this Entry
“Yacht.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/yacht. Accessed 8 Oct. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
yacht
1 of 2 noun
: a fairly small ship used for pleasure cruising or racing
yacht
2 of 2 verb
: to race or cruise in a yacht
Etymology
Noun
from obsolete Dutch jaght (now jacht), short for jachtschip, literally, "hunting ship"
Word Origin
In the 16th century, the Dutch were being attacked by pirates and smugglers who managed to escape after their raids because their ships were much faster than the heavy warships used by the Dutch. To solve the problem, the Dutch began building smaller, sleeker, faster craft. This new kind of craft was called a jaght (later spelled jacht) in Dutch. The word was derived from the Dutch phrase jachtschip, literally meaning "hunting ship." In 1660, the Dutch East India Company presented one of these boats to England's King Charles II. He used it for a pleasure boat rather than for chasing pirates. Soon, other wealthy Englishmen wanted boats just like the king's. The style was then copied and improved over the years. The name for this craft also went through a number of changes over the years, from the original jaght, taken from the Dutch, to the yacht spelling we have today.
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