navigable

adjective

nav·i·ga·ble ˈna-vi-gə-bəl

Synonyms of navigable

: deep enough and wide enough to afford passage to ships

navigable waterways

: capable of being navigated

navigable terrain

: capable of being steered

navigability

ˌna-vi-gə-ˈbi-lə-tē

noun

navigably

ˈna-vi-gə-blē

adverb

Examples of navigable in a Sentence

The marsh was navigable only by canoe. this map shows which rivers are navigable and which aren't

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

The Sheriff’s Office patrols the Chain, with 6,000 acres and 15 lakes that are interconnected navigable waterways, along with the county portion of the Fox River and 26 miles of the Lake Michigan shoreline. — Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026 There's a lot of seaweed and some downed trees thanks to Hurricane Maria, but the terrain is pretty navigable. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Aug. 2026 For its part, the Westmoreland Museum of Art utilized its partnership with Art Bridges to develop the Art Maze, an interactive installation that transformed the museum’s Cantilever Galleries into a navigable labyrinth painted by local artists. — News Desk, Artforum, 5 Aug. 2026 Which Power 4 teams have the most (or least) navigable schedules? — Jason Kirk, New York Times, 24 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for navigable

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler

The first known use of navigable was in the 15th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Navigable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/navigable. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

navigable

adjective

nav·i·ga·ble ˈnav-i-gə-bəl

: deep and wide enough to permit passage to ships

navigable rivers

: capable of being navigated

navigable terrain

: capable of being steered

a navigable balloon

navigability

ˌnav-i-gə-ˈbil-ət-ē

noun

navigable

adjective

Synonyms of navigable

Examples of navigable in a Sentence

Word History

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Kids Definition

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