navigation

noun

nav·​i·​ga·​tion ˌna-və-ˈgā-shən How to pronounce navigation (audio)
1
: the act or practice of navigating
2
: the science of getting vehicles from place to place
especially : the method of determining position, course, and distance traveled
3
: ship traffic or commerce
navigational adjective
navigationally adverb

Examples of navigation in a Sentence

If you're going to be a good sailor you need to master navigation. I don't mind driving if you're willing to do the navigation. Our new car has an onboard navigation system. Navigation becomes more difficult further upriver. There are back and forward buttons for easier browser navigation.
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 aircraft are assigned to the People's Liberation Army Southern Theater Command, which is responsible for securing the South China Sea and responding to foreign navies' freedom of navigation operations, the Pentagon said in its Chinese military power report. Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 May 2025 But, in fact, smartphone-blocking features do allow music and navigation to be used when activated, researchers said. Tanya Mohn, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025 Clicking the arrow at the top of the playback bar opens a navigation menu that shows a guide to upcoming programming. PC Magazine, 29 Apr. 2025 China crunch Workers work on a production line manufacturing smart automotive central control navigation products at a factory of Beidou Intelligent Connected Vehicle Technology Co. (BICV) in the High Tech Industrial Development Zone in Suqian, Jiangsu Province, China April 9, 2025. Jacob Pramuk, CNBC, 28 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for navigation

Word History

First Known Use

1547, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of navigation was in 1547

Cite this Entry

“Navigation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/navigation. Accessed 4 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

navigation

noun
nav·​i·​ga·​tion ˌnav-ə-ˈgā-shən How to pronounce navigation (audio)
1
: the act or practice of navigating
2
: the science of getting ships, aircraft, or spacecraft from place to place
especially : the method of figuring out position, course, and distance traveled
navigational
-shnəl How to pronounce navigation (audio)
-shən-ᵊl
adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on navigation

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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