territorial waters - the waters surrounding a nation and its territories over which that nation exercises sovereign jurisdictionbody of water, water - the part of the earth's surface covered with water (such as a river or lake or ocean); "they invaded our territorial waters"; "they were sitting by the water's edge" briny, main - any very large body of (salt) water U.S. waters, United States waters - territorial waters included within a distance of 12 nautical miles of the coasts of the United States and its territories; "ships operating in United States waters must adhere to United States laws and regulations" |