waterway

This term encompasses both natural rivers and man-made canals, focusing specifically on their utility for navigation and commerce. It evokes an image of infrastructure and connectivity, shifting the focus from the water itself to the path it creates for transport. While the word is generally countable, it is often used in a collective sense when referring to a network of channels. It carries a more technical or administrative tone than words like river or stream, typically appearing in contexts involving urban planning, shipping logistics, or environmental regulation.