navy

[ ney-vee ]

See synonyms for navy on Thesaurus.com

noun,plural na·vies.

the whole body of warships and auxiliaries belonging to a country or ruler.
(often initial capital letter) the complete body of such warships together with their officers and enlisted personnel, equipment, yards, etc., constituting the sea power of a nation.

(often initial capital letter) the department of government charged with its management.
navy blue (def. 1).
Archaic. a fleet of ships.

adjective

belonging or connected to a navy; naval: navy vessels in the harbor;a navy officer with combat experience aboard a submarine.
of the color navy blue: Either tie will look great with your navy suit.

Origin of navy

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English navie, from Middle French, from unattested Vulgar Latin navia, equivalent to Latin nāv(is) “ship” + -ia noun suffix (see -y³)

Other words from navy

pro·na·vy, adjective

Words Nearby navy

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use navy in a sentence

“The U.S. navy will attain IOC [initial operational capability] in 2018 with 3F software,” DellaVedova wrote.
Pentagon Misfires in Stealth Jet Scandal | Dave Majumdar | January 8, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
He was a great lover of the navy, and he liked me because of it.
The Story Behind Lee Marvin’s Liberty Valance Smile | Robert Ward | January 3, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
My father was in an intelligence unit for the U.S. navy, as he had been in World War II.
The Story Behind Lee Marvin’s Liberty Valance Smile | Robert Ward | January 3, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
The navy and Marine Corps versions of the F-35 have differing configurations and rely on an external gun pod.
New U.S. Stealth Jet Can’t Fire Its Gun Until 2019 | Dave Majumdar | December 31, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Within hours, the Indonesian navy said dozens of bodies were being seen.
Wreckage, Bodies of AirAsia Crash Found | Lennox Samuels | December 30, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST

We show the navy all our important operations cables; they have their own ways of doing things and don't open out so freely.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I | Ian Hamilton
This Committee shall be divided into three sections, viz.:—Of diplomacy; of the navy; and of the army.
The Philippine Islands | John Foreman
Thomas Harvey, a distinguished officer in the British navy, died at Bermuda, aged 65.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology | Joel Munsell
Her total Naval complement is 2200 officers and enlisted men of the regular navy.
A Brief History of the U. S. S. Imperator, one of the two Largest Ships in the U. S. Navy. | Anonymous
He was promoted up the ladder of success steadily, and in 1910 he received his commission as a Commander in the navy.
A Brief History of the U. S. S. Imperator, one of the two Largest Ships in the U. S. Navy. | Anonymous

British Dictionary definitions for navy

navy

/ (ˈneɪvɪ) /

nounplural -vies

the warships and auxiliary vessels of a nation or ruler
the navy (often capital) the branch of a country's armed services comprising such ships, their crews, and all their supporting services and equipment

short for navy blue
archaic, or literary a fleet of ships
(as modifier): a navy custom

Origin of navy

C14: via Old French from Vulgar Latin nāvia (unattested) ship, from Latin nāvis ship

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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