naval

adjective

na·​val ˈnā-vəl 

1

obsolete : of or relating to ships or shipping

2

a

: of or relating to a navy

b

: consisting of or involving warships

Examples of naval in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Liaoning and the Shandong have been operating simultaneously in waters east of Japan, Taiwan, and the Philippines—which form the First Island Chain under the U.S. containment strategy aimed at restricting China's naval activities. —Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 June 2025

Shelton died in 2021 at age 100 as the then oldest living naval aviator. —John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 June 2025

Analysts noted that the Pacific exercises specifically covered areas through which US naval support of Taiwan, in the event of conflict there, would have to pass. —Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 16 June 2025

Since May, China has been flexing its muscles by sending an unusually large number of naval and coast guard vessels through a swath of East Asian waters, according to security documents and officials, in moves that have unnerved regional capitals. —Reuters, NBC news, 11 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin navalis, from navis ship

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing naval

• chief of naval operations
• naval architect
• naval stores

Rhymes for naval

• navel
• primaeval

Kids Definition

naval

adjective

na·​val ˈnā-vəl 

: of or relating to a navy or warships