navel

noun

na·​vel ˈnā-vəl 

1

: a depression in the middle of the abdomen that marks the point of former attachment of the umbilical cord or yolk stalk

2

: the central point : middle

At Delphi, navel of the world, the ancients built a famous shrine …

—Jean Shor and Franc Shor

Synonyms of navel

• center
• capital
• hub
• mecca
• heart
• focus
• seat
• base

Examples of navel in a Sentence

a city that likes to regard itself as the nation's navel of art and culture

Recent Examples on the Web

This tilt toward Gloria causes the film to lose its way a bit, pulling focus from the more potentially vital mentor-disciple dynamic between Ed and the anxious, navel-gazing Meyers. — Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026

In the center of the room, a few feet from the spiral staircase covered in chili pepper string lights, a dozen people simmered in the navel-high spa waters of a cylindrical tub. — Literary Hub, 11 Aug. 2026

During a picturesque beach day, the model and reality star was spotted at the popular beachside hangout, Club 55, wearing a deep-plunging leopard-print playsuit with beaded detailing at the navel. — Meg Walters, InStyle, 28 July 2026

Screwworm flies often lay eggs in open wounds or warm, sensitive areas, such as in the nose, ears, genitalia or the navel of newborn animals. — Sarah Tomlinson, The Conversation, 24 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, going back to Old English nafola, nafela, going back to Germanic *naƀ-alan- (whence also Old Frisian naula "navel," Middle Dutch navel, navele, Old High German nabalo, Old Icelandic nafli), masculine n-stem derivative from *naƀō "hub of a wheel, nave entry 1"; pre-Germanic *h₃nob^h-Vlo- with o-grade ablaut and an -l- formative is paralleled by zero-grade and an -l- formative in Latin umbilīcus "navel, central point" (see umbilicus), Old Irish imliu, imbliu "navel, boss of a shield, central point" (< *amb-el-on- < *h₃n̥b^h-el-on-), Greek omphalós "navel, central point" (see omphalos)

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing navel

• navel-gazing
• navel orange

Rhymes for navel

• naval

Kids Definition

navel

noun

na·​vel ˈnā-vəl 

: a hollowed out place on the outside wall of the middle of the abdomen marking the point of attachment of the umbilical cord

Medical Definition

navel

noun

na·​vel ˈnā-vəl 

: a depression in the middle of the abdomen that marks the point of former attachment of the umbilical cord to the embryo

called also umbilicus