navy

noun

na·​vy ˈnā-vē How to pronounce navy (audio)
plural navies
Synonyms of navynext
1
: a group of ships : fleet
2
: a nation's ships of war and of logistic support
3
often Navy : the complete naval establishment of a nation including yards, stations, ships, and personnel
4
: a dark grayish purplish blue

Examples of navy in a Sentence

A similar submarine is used by several foreign navies. a career in the navy The shirt comes in black, white, and navy.
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.
Six Turkish navy vessels were also dispatched to the area, the ministry said. — David Brennan, ABC News, 30 Aug. 2026 The five-week assault at the beginning of the war wiped out Iran's limited air force, including its air defenses, and virtually all of its navy, aside from small speed boats. — Greg Myre, NPR, 28 Aug. 2026 Trump has also promoted the destruction of Iran's nuclear facilities and navy, and the reduction in missile and drone capabilities, as measures of success. — Bart Jansen, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026 Channing, 82, graced the midnight-blue carpet in a coordinated navy suit with billowing sleeves, layered over a white button-up shirt and a lengthy chain necklace in silver. — Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for navy

Word History

Etymology

Middle English navie, from Anglo-French, from Latin navigia ships, from navigare

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of navy was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing navy

Rhymes for navy

See All Rhymes for navy

Browse Nearby Words

navvy
navy
navy agent
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Navy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/navy. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

navy

noun
na·​vy ˈnā-vē How to pronounce navy (audio)
plural navies
1
: a fleet of ships
2
: a nation's warships
3
often capitalized : a nation's complete equipment and organization for sea warfare
4
: a dark purplish blue

More from Merriam-Webster on navy

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for navy

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about navy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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