navy

[ney-vee]

noun

plural

navies 

1. the whole body of warships and auxiliaries belonging to a country or ruler.

2. (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.

3. (often initial capital letter),  the department of government charged with its management.

4. navy blue.

5. Archaic.,  a fleet of ships.

adjective

1. belonging or connected to a navy; naval.

   navy vessels in the harbor;

   a navy officer with combat experience aboard a submarine.

2. of the color navy blue.

   Either tie will look great with your navy suit.

navy

/ ˈneɪvɪ /

noun

1. the warships and auxiliary vessels of a nation or ruler

2. (often capital) the branch of a country's armed services comprising such ships, their crews, and all their supporting services and equipment

3. short for navy blue

4. archaic,  a fleet of ships

5. ( as modifier )

   a navy custom

Other Word Forms

• pronavy adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of navy¹

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 ( -y ³ )

Word History and Origins

Origin of navy¹

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

Example Sentences

Ukraine barely has a navy and has taken out 35% of Russia’s Black Sea fleet.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The stealthy submarine—which is difficult to detect because it can stay underwater continuously for long periods—won’t be deployed by South Korea’s navy any time soon.

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One survivor was rescued by Mexico’s navy, according to the Pentagon and Sheinbaum.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The 25-year-old, skating the same programme as last season but in a new crystal-bedecked navy dress, comfortably pulled off a notoriously difficult triple Axel to start.

Read more on Barron's

He publicly complained that he didn’t like the look of the service’s destroyers, comparing them to rival navies.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal