navigation
Americannoun
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the act or process of navigating.
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the art or science of plotting, ascertaining, or directing the course of a ship, aircraft, or guided missile.
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Computers.
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the act or process of moving from one part of a website, software program, document, etc., to another part, especially by using links or menus.
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the design and placement of user interface elements like links and menus that allow a user to move from one part of a website, software program, document, etc., to another part.
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noun
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the skill or process of plotting a route and directing a ship, aircraft, etc, along it
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the act or practice of navigating
dredging made navigation of the river possible
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rare ship traffic; shipping
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dialect an inland waterway; canal
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of navigation
First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin nāvigātiōn- (stem of nāvigātiō ) “a voyage”; see navigate, -ion
Explanation
Navigation is all about figuring out how to get somewhere. If you are lost, hopefully your cell phone can act as a navigation device. You're most likely to come across the noun navigation when you're learning to sail a boat or pilot a ship or airplane. Large vessels that travel long distances often need some help in planning a route and following it, and that's exactly what navigation is all about. The Latin word navigare, "to sail, sail over, go by sea, steer a ship," is at the root of navigation, and it in turn comes from navis, "ship."
Vocabulary lists containing navigation
"Rogue Wave," Vocabulary from the short story
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Lesson 1
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"Rogue Wave" by Theodore Taylor
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The US chair statement also stressed the need for "secure, resilient, and uninterrupted energy flows, including safe navigation" through waterways.
From Barron's ● Oct. 31, 2026
Cognitive symptoms could include illusions or hallucinations — some patients report sensing a shadowy figure nearby — and difficulties with problem solving and navigation.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 30, 2026
Finding the shortest route between two locations is something navigation apps like Google Maps do every day.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 30, 2026
Meanwhile, Oman said discussions with Iran had produced an outline for a temporary arrangement to restore free navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, although political obstacles remain.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 27, 2026
Moreover, the importance of the compass in navigation meant that the magnet was bound to be a subject of discussion.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
