watershed
WAW-ter-shed
/ˈwɔːtərʃɛd/
An area or ridge of land that separates waters flowing to different rivers, basins, or seas; (metaphorically) an event or period marking a turning point.
In science, it's a drainage basin; in history, it's a moment that changes everything.
The story behind the word. The 'shed' part comes from the same root as 'parting' your hair. It describes the high ground that 'sheds' or divides the water into different valleys.
Word relationships
- drainage basin: Drainage basin is the purely technical term for the geographical area.
- turning point: Turning point is the common synonym for the metaphorical meaning.
Commonly confused with
- catchment: Catchment is essentially synonymous, though 'watershed' is more common in North America.
Collocations
- watershed moment
- river watershed
- protect the watershed
Example sentences
- "Pollution in the upper watershed can affect the water quality of the entire river system." Environmental science
- "The discovery of penicillin was a watershed moment in the history of medicine." Historical analysis
Memory hook
Think of a 'Shed' roof—the water hits the peak and 'sheds' off to either side. The great divide.
When not to use
Don't use to describe a literal shed where you keep water; it's a geographical feature.
Fun facts
- The Continental Divide of the Americas is a massive watershed that determines whether water flows to the Atlantic or Pacific Ocean.
Related words
Explore more words
heretofore, milestone, epiphany, landmark, make a difference, cataclysm
Also appears in
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.