naval

[ ney-vuh l ]

/ ˈneɪ vəl /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR naval ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

of or relating to warships: a naval battle; naval strength.

of or relating to ships of all kinds: naval architecture; naval engineer.

belonging to, pertaining to, or connected with a navy: naval affairs.

possessing a navy: the great naval powers.

Nearby words

Origin of naval

1585–95; < Latin nāvālis, equivalent to nāv(is) ship + -ālis -al¹

Related formsna·val·ly, adverbnon·na·val, adjectivepre·na·val, adjectivepro·na·val, adjective

Can be confusedknave naval nave (see synonym study at knave)naval navelnaval nautical

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for naval

Editor's Note: This story had been amended to clarify Jeffrey Wright's Naval service.
The Navy ‘Hero’ Who Pimped an HIV-Positive Teen|M.L. Nestel|December 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
However, there has been a lot of work done since the report was released, the naval architect said.
Can the Navy's $12 Billion Stealth Destroyer Stay Afloat?|Dave Majumdar|October 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“This is an area that the Navy is taking seriously,” one naval architect familiar with the design told The Daily Beast.
Can the Navy's $12 Billion Stealth Destroyer Stay Afloat?|Dave Majumdar|October 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She entered into the Naval Reserve of the Royal Canadian Navy at 17 while still in high school.
The Making of Kiesza: From Navy Sharpshooter to Beauty Queen to Pop Diva|Marlow Stern|October 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Churchill welcomed the approach and immediately continued the exchanges using the code name “naval person.”
Blood and War: The Hard Truth About ‘Boots on the Ground’|Clive Irving|September 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
One hundred and eight persons were killed and ninety-two wounded, most of them members of the English naval service.
The Story of the Great War, Volume VII (of VIII)|Various
The naval officer was there because the hour of the midday meal on board the cruiser did not coincide with lunch time on shore.
A Rock in the Baltic|Robert Barr
In 1911 naval policy was, for the first time, one of the vexed questions in a general election.
All Afloat|William Wood
The month of May, 1915, saw new characters enter the theatres of naval warfare.
The Story of the Great War, Volume III (of VIII)|Various
It was soon evident to the Australians that this was intended to be a German naval station and military post of great importance.
"Over There" with the Australians|R. Hugh Knyvett

British Dictionary definitions for naval

naval

/ (ˈneɪvəl) /

adjective

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

of or relating to ships; nautical

Word Origin for naval

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

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

Word Origin and History for naval

naval

adj.

early 15c., from Old French naval (14c.) and directly from Latin navalis "pertaining to a ship or ships," from navis "ship," from PIE *nau- "boat" (cf. Sanskrit nauh, accusative navam "ship, boat;" Armenian nav "ship;" Greek naus "ship," nautes "sailor;" Old Irish nau "ship;" Welsh noe "a flat vessel;" Old Norse nor "ship"). An Old English word for "naval" was scipherelic.

naval

adjective

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Origin of naval

Examples from the Web for naval

naval

adjective

Word Origin for naval

naval