navy

[ney-vee]

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noun, plural na·vies.

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

(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.

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

navy blue.

Archaic. a fleet of ships.

Origin of navy

1300–50; Middle English navie < Middle French < Vulgar Latin *navia, equivalent to Latin nāv(is) ship + -ia -y³

Related formspro·na·vy, adjective

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

Related Words for navy

armada, flotilla, vessels, argosy

Examples from the Web for navy

Contemporary Examples of navy

He was a great lover of the navy, and he liked me because of it.
The Story Behind Lee Marvin’s Liberty Valance Smile
Robert Ward
January 3, 2015
The Navy and Marine Corps versions of the F-35 have differing configurations and rely on an external gun pod.
New U.S. Stealth Jet Can’t Fire Its Gun Until 2019
Dave Majumdar
December 31, 2014
Within hours, the Indonesian navy said dozens of bodies were being seen.
Wreckage, Bodies of AirAsia Crash Found
Lennox Samuels
December 30, 2014
The Italian navy tweeted regular updates of the saved-to-stranded passenger ratio.
‘We’re Going to Die’: Survivors Recount Greek Ferry Fire Horror
Barbie Latza Nadeau
December 29, 2014
He said the brokers promise that the Italian navy will pick them up, which he says has actually driven the prices down.
Inside the Smuggling Networks Flooding Europe with Refugees
Barbie Latza Nadeau
December 15, 2014

Historical Examples of navy

As one result of this, our Navy ranks larger, in comparison, than it ever did before.
United States Presidents' Inaugural Speeches
Various
I went down to the Post Office once and got a bill about the Navy!
The Foolish Lovers
St. John G. Ervine
"That's of course, if he was a captain in the British navy," said Mr. Palmer.
Tales And Novels, Volume 5 (of 10)
Maria Edgeworth
It was afterwards understood that he was destined for the navy.
Ned Myers
James Fenimore Cooper
I entered the navy, then, for the first time, as a common Jack.
Ned Myers
James Fenimore Cooper

British Dictionary definitions for navy

navy

noun plural -vies

the warships and auxiliary vessels of a nation or ruler

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

short for navy blue

archaic, or literary a fleet of ships

(as modifier)a navy custom

Word Origin for navy

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

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 navy

early 14c., "fleet of ships, especially for purposes of war," from Old French navie "fleet, ship," from Latin navigia, plural of navigium "vessel, boat," from navis "ship" (see naval). Meaning "a nation's collective, organized sea power" is from 1530s. The Old English words were sciphere (usually of Viking invaders) and scipfierd (usually of the home defenses). Navy blue was the color of the British naval uniform. Navy bean attested from 1856, so called because they were grown to be used by the Navy.