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Synonyms

navigator

American  
[nav-i-gey-ter] / ˈnæv ɪˌgeɪ tər /

noun

navigators plural
  1. a person who navigates.

  2. a person who practices, or is skilled in, navigation, as of ships or aircraft.

  3. a person who conducts explorations by sea.

  4. British. a navvy.


navigator British  
/ ˈnævɪˌɡeɪtə /

noun

  1. a person who is skilled in or performs navigation, esp on a ship or aircraft

  2. (esp formerly) a person who explores by ship

  3. an instrument or device for assisting a pilot to navigate an aircraft

"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

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

Etymology

Origin of navigator

First recorded in 1580–90, navigator is from the Latin word nāvigātor a sailor, mariner. See navigate, -tor

Explanation

A navigator is the person whose job it is to steer the ship. The navigator plans and charts the course and then points the boat in the right direction. Use the noun navigator when you talk about someone who's in charge of planning a ship's route. Airplanes have navigators too, to direct the course they will take using maps and various instruments. A more old fashioned meaning of navigator is an ocean explorer. In fact, in Latin, navigator simply means "sailor," from navis, "ship," and agere, "drive."

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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.

Such so-called hybrid transactions could help Navigator increase the number of investments it makes each year beyond the one or two it has targeted over recent years, CEO Stephen Darke said Monday.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 4, 2026

Navigator on Monday said it would pay $103 million in cash to New York-based Stable Asset Management for a portfolio of revenue-share interests in 17 alternative asset managers.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 4, 2026

A strategic partnership with Stable Asset Management will allow Navigator to co-fund future acquisitions, potentially increasing its annual deals.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 4, 2026

Stable will become Navigator’s second-largest investor, with Blue Owl Capital’s stake in Navigator falling to 37% from 49%.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 4, 2026

Navigator Galya Dzhunkovskaya, who used to sing to Masha Dolina in the air, now flew with Klava Fomicheva.

From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein

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