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

Holland, meanwhile, sported a navy suit with a white button-down and a striped necktie, as well as a pair of black leather boots. —Hannah Malach, InStyle, 18 June 2026

The neutral 80 percent (black, navy, gray, camel, cream) does the heavy lifting, because those tones mix with nearly everything, so almost any top goes with almost any bottom. —Ryan Brennan, Sacbee.com, 18 June 2026

Its navy is at the bottom of the Persian Gulf. —David Goldman, CNN Money, 17 June 2026

The burly bureaucrat in dark slacks and a navy sweater has a scruffy beard and the frazzled look of an anonymous factotum thrust into the limelight. —Joshua Hunt, Vanity Fair, 17 June 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