Word
watertight
Phoneticswa·ter·tight, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈwɔtɝˌtaɪt/
UK/wˈɔːtətˌaɪt/
Definitions
01keeping water out
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. made so tightly that water cannot get in or out.
adj. constructed or sealed so tightly as to be impermeable to water.
“Make sure the container is watertight before you put it in your bag.”
“The engineers tested the hull to ensure it was completely watertight before the submarine's first deep-sea mission.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
02perfect or certain
C1 · Advanced Formal
adj. so well planned or explained that no one can find a mistake or defeat it.
adj. impossible to defeat, evade, or nullify; used of arguments, plans, or legal cases.
“The police had a watertight case against the thief.”
“The legal team spent months building a watertight argument to ensure the contract could not be challenged in court.”
Usage
Often collocates with 'case', 'argument', 'alibi', or 'excuse'.
Synonyms
Etymology
From water + tight. Compare Scots wattirticht (“watertight”), West Frisian wetterticht (“waterproof”), Dutch waterdicht (“waterproof, watertight”), German wasserdicht (“watertight, waterproof”), Danish vandtæt (“watertight”), Swedish vattentät (“watertight, waterproof”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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