navy

noun

na·​vy ˈnā-vē 

plural navies

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

Instead of maintaining separate aircraft inventories for different carrier classes, the navy can move J-15T fighters between carriers depending on operational requirements, maintenance schedules or deployment plans. — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 4 July 2026

People wave Iranian flags while attending the funeral of Alireza Tangsiri, commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards' navy alongside others killed in US-Israeli strikes on Iran at Enghelab Square in Tehran on April 1, 2026. — Emma Graham, CNBC, 4 July 2026

Hawke was dressed in a navy suit for the occasion, matching Ryan's gown, which featured several shades of blue. — Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026

Congress never named another navy commander, making Esek Hopkins the first and only Commander in Chief of the Continental Navy during the American Revolution. — Catherine Messier, The Providence Journal, 3 July 2026

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

Phrases Containing navy

• master chief petty officer of the navy
• navy bean
• navy blue
• navy yard

Rhymes for navy

• gravy
• wavy

Kids Definition

navy

noun

na·​vy ˈnā-vē 

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