navy

[ney-vee]

noun

plural

navies 

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

2. (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.

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

4. navy blue.

5. Archaic.,  a fleet of ships.

adjective

1. belonging or connected to a navy; naval.

   navy vessels in the harbor;

   a navy officer with combat experience aboard a submarine.

2. of the color navy blue.

   Either tie will look great with your navy suit.

navy

/ ˈneɪvɪ /

noun

1. the warships and auxiliary vessels of a nation or ruler

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

3. short for navy blue

4. archaic,  a fleet of ships

5. ( as modifier )

   a navy custom

Other Word Forms

• pronavy adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of navy¹

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 ( -y ³ )

Word History and Origins

Origin of navy¹

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

Example Sentences

Israel said its navy had told the boats to change course as they were "approaching an active combat zone and violating a lawful naval blockade", while the GSF said the interceptions were "illegal".

From BBC

Demonstrators in central London protesting the Israeli navy halting a flotilla carrying aid to Gaza clashed with police officers outside of Downing Street on Thursday evening.

From BBC

Israel said its navy told the boats to change course as they were "approaching an active combat zone and violating a lawful naval blockade", while the GSF described the interceptions as "illegal".

From BBC

The Chinese national was handed one count of refusing to follow instructions from the French navy and told to attend a court hearing in the northern coastal city of Brest next February.

From BBC

The Israeli navy has told a flotilla carrying aid towards Gaza to change course, as activists say the boats have been intercepted.

From BBC