surface ship

noun

A military (naval) vessel designed for operation on the marine surface, as distinguished from a submarine or other types of vessels. Aircraft carriers are frequently excluded.

Opposite
submersible
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Meanings

nounsurface ship (plural surface ships)

plural surface ships

  1. A military (naval) vessel designed for operation on the marine surface, as distinguished from a submarine or other types of vessels. Aircraft carriers are frequently excluded.

Synonyms & antonyms

nouna warship that operates on the surface of the water

Opposite
submersible
Broader
warshipwar vesselcombat ship

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Cite this entry
APA

surface ship. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/surface%20ship

MLA

“surface ship.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/surface%20ship. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “surface ship,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/surface%20ship.

Source: surface ship on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.