nautical

adjective

nau·​ti·​cal ˈnȯ-ti-kəl 

ˈnä-

: of, relating to, or associated with sailors, navigation, or ships

a dictionary of nautical terms

nautical flags

nautical skills

nautically

ˈnȯ-ti-k(ə-)lē 

ˈnä-

adverb

Synonyms of nautical

• navigational
• naval
• marine
• maritime

Examples of nautical in a Sentence

a dictionary of nautical terms

collected sextants and other antique nautical equipment

Recent Examples on the Web

Houston’s tribute to the city’s car culture (a red slab leading the way onto the field), Minnesota picking up Norway’s nautical chant from the World Cup … and of course Tennessee fans singing Dolly Parton. — Jason Kirk, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026

Just across the river from Portrait Firenze, Hotel Lungarno—also owned by the Ferragamo family—exudes retro style, with nautical blue and white interiors and a blue-chip art collection that includes sketches by Picasso and Miro. — Laura Itzkowitz, Vogue, 4 Sep. 2026

The two side ropes also nod to the marine world, with traditional nautical knots at the center. — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 4 Sep. 2026

To the designers, Americana style (and its coastal, cottage, and nautical offshoots) is homey, filled with timeworn textures, and rooted in nostalgia. — Kathy Barnes, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin nauticus, from Greek nautikos, from nautēs sailor, from naus ship — more at nave

First Known Use

1552, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing nautical

• nautical mile

Rhymes for nautical

• aeronautical
• astronautical

Kids Definition

nautical

adjective

nau·​ti·​cal ˈnȯt-i-kəl 

ˈnät-

: of or relating to sailors, navigation, or ships

nautically

-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Etymology

from Latin nauticus "nautical," from Greek nautikos (same meaning), from nautēs "sailor," from naus "ship" — related to astronaut, nausea see Word History at nausea