LexBrew
Usage Entry 1286 / 1350 60-second read

Ship vs. Boat

A large ocean-going vessel versus a smaller watercraft.

The comparisoni

✗ Wrong

The canoe is a ship.

✓ Correct

The canoe is a boat — ships are larger, ocean-going vessels. Boats are smaller watercraft (generally).

The ruleii

SHIP = large. BOAT = small.

SHIP is a large vessel designed for ocean travel — cruise ships, cargo ships, navy ships. BOAT is smaller — canoes, fishing boats, tugboats. A sailors' saying: "A ship can carry a boat, but a boat cannot carry a ship." Exceptions exist (submarines are boats, whaleships are ships).

Memory aidiii

Remember it like this

A ship carries a boat.

You might also like 6 related
↑↓Navigate Open EscClose All results →