ENGLISH
REFERENCE

watertight

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈwɔtɝˌtaɪt// UK //wˈɔːtətˌaɪt// wa·ter·tight

adj. describing something that does not let any water through. It can also describe an argument or plan that is so good that there are no mistakes or holes in it.

adj. impermeable to water; also used figuratively to describe an argument or plan that is logically sound and free from flaws. Often used predicatively after a linking verb or attributively before a noun.


SIMPLE

The new tent is completely watertight.

CONTEXTUAL

The lawyer presented a watertight defense that left the jury with no questions about the client's innocence.

COMPLEX

While the physical seals on the container were watertight, the logical gaps in the company's financial report made the entire proposal vulnerable to scrutiny.

Synonyms
Origin

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”).

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