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.

So many men died, many of them "navvies" who moved between major construction projects, they had to make local graveyards bigger.

From BBC • May 1, 2026

They helped build the C&O Canal and worked as navvies, or laborers, in its port.

From Washington Post • Mar. 4, 2020

To build the Paris-Rouen-Le Havre line in 1841-7, they “imported” not only an engineer, but also thousands of British navvies, miners, bricklayers and mechanics.

From Time • Oct. 26, 2016

I'm not advocating navvies but maybe we need a touch of 19th-century confidence.

From The Guardian • Mar. 6, 2011

At the terrace of the Tuileries about twelve navvies sadly dug away at a useless fosse.

From History of the Commune of 1871 by Lissagary, P.