watertight

/ˈwɔːtətaɪt/ (bre, ipa) · [wˈɔtɚtˌaɪt] /ˈwɔːtərtaɪt/ (ame, ipa) · [wˈɔtɚtˌaɪt] /ˌwȯ-tər-ˈtīt How to pronounce watertight (audio) ˌwä-/ (ame, mw)

watertight — adjective

  • watertightpositive
  • more watertightcomparative
  • most watertightsuperlative

1. built or sealed in a way that stops water from passing through any opening or ga

1.形容詞B2
釋義

built or sealed in a way that stops water from passing through any opening or gap

例句

The diving watch has a watertight seal that keeps seawater out at depths of 200 metres.

watertight seal — noun + noun pattern for physical objects

Mira packed her documents in a watertight plastic box before the canoe trip.

attributive use: watertight + container noun

同義詞
  • waterproof

    broader term; often describes fabrics and coatings rather than sealed containers

  • sealed

    emphasises the closure itself rather than the water-repelling property

  • impermeable

    formal and technical, used in scientific contexts

反義詞
  • leaky

    allows water to escape or enter through holes or cracks

  • porous

    has tiny holes that let water soak through slowly

文法句型

watertight + noun

be + watertight

用法筆記

Frequently used for containers, seals, compartments, and vessels. The word emphasises that no water can enter through gaps or seams, unlike 'waterproof', which often refers to surface-level resistance.

常見錯誤

❌I bought a watertight jacket for the rain.
✅I bought a waterproof jacket for the rain.
💡'Watertight' usually describes containers, seals, or ship compartments, not clothing.

2. so carefully planned, written, or structured that no mistakes, weaknesses, or wa

2.形容詞B2
釋義

so carefully planned, written, or structured that no mistakes, weaknesses, or ways around the rules can be found

例句

The lawyer prepared a watertight contract that protected her client in every possible situation.

watertight + contract — common legal collocation

Diya's argument against the new policy was nearly watertight, with no logical gaps.

同義詞
  • airtight

    similarly metaphorical; slightly stronger emphasis on complete closure

  • flawless

    focuses on absence of errors rather than absence of loopholes

  • bulletproof

    informal; suggests resilience under attack or challenge

  • foolproof

    emphasises that nothing can go wrong even with unskilled users

反義詞
  • flawed

    contains mistakes or weaknesses

  • weak

    can be easily challenged or broken

  • full of holes

    informal; has obvious gaps or weaknesses

文法句型

watertight + abstract noun

be + watertight

用法筆記

Commonly describes contracts, legal arguments, plans, theories, alibis, and security systems. Distinguish from Sense 1, which applies to physical objects that block water.

常見錯誤

❌The student wrote a watertight essay on climate change.
✅The student wrote a well-structured essay on climate change.
💡'Watertight' for abstract things is reserved for arguments, plans, contracts, and legal reasoning, not general academic essays.
❌We have a watertight promise from the manager.
✅We have a firm promise from the manager.
💡A promise is a commitment, not a document or plan that can be checked for loopholes.

3. describing a team's defensive play, especially in football, that is so organised

3.形容詞C1
釋義

describing a team's defensive play, especially in football, that is so organised and strong that the opposing team cannot score

例句

Brazil's watertight defence conceded only three goals in the entire tournament.

watertight defence — fixed sports collocation

The team's watertight back line stopped every attack from the opposing forwards.

同義詞
  • impenetrable

    stronger emphasis on the defence being impossible to break through

  • solid

    informal, less dramatic than 'watertight'

  • rock-solid

    informal; suggests reliability and strength

反義詞
  • vulnerable

    easily attacked or scored against

  • weak

    opposing teams can break through without much effort

文法句型

watertight + defence/defense

用法筆記

Primarily used in football (soccer) commentary and analysis. The phrase 'watertight defence' is a fixed collocation. This sense appears almost exclusively in British English sports reporting.

常見錯誤

❌The goalkeeper has watertight hands.
✅The goalkeeper has a watertight defence in front of him.
💡'Watertight' describes the whole defensive unit, not an individual player's body parts.
❌Our team played a watertight offence.
✅Our team played a watertight defence.
💡The collocation only pairs with 'defence/defense', not with 'offence' or 'attack'.