navy

noun

na·​vy ˈnā-vē How to pronounce navy (audio)
plural navies
1
: a group of ships : fleet
2
: a nation's ships of war and of logistic support
3
often capitalized : 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 The navy rescued 17 crew members of the vessel MV Ruen during an anti-piracy operation lasting nearly two days, according to an Indian Navy news release, with no casualties reported. Brad Lendon, CNN, 19 Mar. 2024 He was promoted to admiral in 1980 and ended his military career two years later as the navy’s inspector general. Brian Murphy, Washington Post, 16 Mar. 2024 Stewart was joined by her fiancée Dylan Meyer, 35, who color-coordinated with the actress, rocking shades and a navy coat over a white top. Brendan Le, Peoplemag, 13 Mar. 2024 The victories have been all the more surprising because Ukraine does not have a traditional navy or a fleet of warships. Paul Sonne, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2024 One day later, Prince Harry personally tested out an outdoor skeleton track for next year’s games, while Markle kept warm in a navy puffer coat with a matching scarf and beanie. Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 2 Mar. 2024 Meanwhile, the Russian navy's Black Sea Fleet, which had its headquarters in Sevastopol on the occupied Crimean Peninsula, has largely fled after Ukrainian attacks. Claire Harbage, NPR, 24 Feb. 2024 The machine-washable shirt is available in four colors: blue, black, gray, and navy. Nicol Natale, Peoplemag, 7 Mar. 2024 Meanwhile, the Indian navy released a video of its sailors from the INS Kolkata fighting a fire aboard the MSC Sky II, which had been targeted by the Houthis in the Gulf of Aden on Monday. Michael Dorgan, Fox News, 6 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'navy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near navy

Cite this Entry

“Navy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/navy. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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