navy

[ ney-vee ]

/ ˈneɪ vi /

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See synonyms for: navy / navier / naviest on Thesaurus.com

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 (def. 1).

Archaic. a fleet of ships.

adjective

belonging or connected to a navy; naval: navy vessels in the harbor;a navy officer with combat experience aboard a submarine.

of the color navy blue: Either tie will look great with your navy suit.

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Origin of navy

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English navie, from Middle French, from unattested Vulgar Latin navia, equivalent to Latin nāv(is) “ship” + -ia noun suffix (see -y³)

OTHER WORDS FROM navy

pro·na·vy, adjective

Words nearby navy

Návpaktos, Navratilova, NAVSAT, NAVSTAR Global Positioning System, navvy, navy, navy bean, navy blue, Navy Cross, navy cut, navy gray

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use navy in a sentence

By exploring the possibility of a semi-autonomous scout, fire-support, and anti-submarine drone, navies could expand the capacity of existing ships to find and fight enemies.
This heavy-lift drone could quietly carry a sub-hunting torpedo|Kelsey D. Atherton|September 22, 2021|Popular-Science
There, we sat overlooking the navy water, until my sons ran down to dip their toes in, back and forth along the shore like puppies.
In Massachusetts, a seacoast city that feels like home|Hannah Selinger|August 26, 2021|Washington Post
He allocated generous government funding for the Beiyang Fleet, China’s first modern navy.
China’s path to modernization has, for centuries, gone through my hometown|Yangyang Cheng|June 30, 2021|MIT Technology Review
As Philip served in the British navy during the war, he and Elizabeth corresponded and met several times.
Prince Philip, royal consort to Queen Elizabeth II, dies at 99|Adrian Higgins|April 9, 2021|Washington Post

VARD Marine, which makes everything from ferries to navy ships, will work on designing the ship’s architecture, including its hull, mechanical, and electrical systems.
DARPA wants designs for robotic warships that won’t need a crew|Kelsey D. Atherton|March 10, 2021|Popular-Science
“The U.S. Navy will attain IOC [initial operational capability] in 2018 with 3F software,” DellaVedova wrote.
Pentagon Misfires in Stealth Jet Scandal|Dave Majumdar|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
My father was in an intelligence unit for the U.S. Navy, as he had been in World War II.
The Story Behind Lee Marvin’s Liberty Valance Smile|Robert Ward|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
Within hours, the Indonesian navy said dozens of bodies were being seen.
Wreckage, Bodies of AirAsia Crash Found|Lennox Samuels|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
We show the Navy all our important operations cables; they have their own ways of doing things and don't open out so freely.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I|Ian Hamilton
This Committee shall be divided into three sections, viz.:—Of diplomacy; of the navy; and of the army.
The Philippine Islands|John Foreman
Thomas Harvey, a distinguished officer in the British navy, died at Bermuda, aged 65.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
Her total Naval complement is 2200 officers and enlisted men of the regular Navy.
A Brief History of the U. S. S. Imperator, one of the two Largest Ships in the U. S. Navy.|Anonymous
He was promoted up the ladder of success steadily, and in 1910 he received his commission as a Commander in the Navy.
A Brief History of the U. S. S. Imperator, one of the two Largest Ships in the U. S. Navy.|Anonymous

British Dictionary definitions for navy

navy

/ (ˈneɪvɪ) /

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

navy

Origin of navy

OTHER WORDS FROM navy

Words nearby navy

Words related to navy

How to use navy in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for navy

Word Origin for navy