naval

[ney-vuhl]

adjective

1. of or relating to warships.

   a naval battle; naval strength.

2. of or relating to ships of all kinds.

   naval architecture; naval engineer.

3. belonging to, pertaining to, or connected with a navy.

   naval affairs.

4. possessing a navy.

   the great naval powers.

naval

/ ˈneɪvəl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, characteristic of, or having a navy

2. of or relating to ships; nautical

Other Word Forms

• navally adverb
• nonnaval adjective
• prenaval adjective
• pronaval adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of naval¹

First recorded in 1585–95; from Latin nāvālis, equivalent to nāv(is) “ship” + -ālis -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of naval¹

C16: from Latin nāvālis, from nāvis ship; related to Greek naus, Old Norse nōr ship, Sanskrit nau

Example Sentences

Japan, and the Philippines in naval exercises in the disputed South China Sea.

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"Another futile attempt to breach the legal naval blockade and enter a combat zone ended in nothing," Israel's foreign ministry said.

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Albert Keir was part of the D-Day naval crew which carried American troops to Utah Beach in France on 6 June 1944.

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The Southern Californian wrote that the previous night several Israeli naval ships had “menaced” the convoy of some 40 boats.

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Israel has deported Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg and 170 other pro-Palestinian activists who were detained when Israeli forces intercepted a flotilla trying to breach its naval blockade of Gaza to deliver aid last week.

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Related Words

• marine 
• maritime 
• oceangoing 
• seafaring