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

From all these locations, Regulus will disappear behind the moon's dark limb against a cobalt-blue sky during nautical or late twilight, with the sun at least 12 degrees below the horizon. —Joe Rao, Space.com, 24 Apr. 2026

At The Crossing, chef Chef Nick Duggan puts a Lowcountry spin on Mediterranean cuisine in a dining room that continues the nautical trend with teak wood floors, polished nickel accents, and views of the water from nearly every table. —Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 22 Apr. 2026

But even before that nautical narrative of a reality show sailed into his life, the Australia native spent 30 years in the shipping/boating/charter industries. —Rod Stafford Hagwood, Sun Sentinel, 20 Apr. 2026

The impression came quickly as nautical accents and unobstructed water views unfolded in the signature restaurant at The Cooper, a new riverfront hotel in Charleston. —Karla Walsh, Travel + Leisure, 19 Apr. 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