naval

adjective

na·​val ˈnā-vəl How to pronounce naval (audio)
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Norfolk — the largest naval base in the world located in Portsmouth, Virginia — already floods 10 times a year because of elevated sea levels. Bella Kubach, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 May 2025 The biennial event featured 102 aircraft and 35 naval ships from different nations. Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 May 2025 This past week, a tragic accident happened when the Mexican Navy’s training ship, Cuauhtémoc, crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge, claiming the lives of a young naval cadet and a sailor while also leaving others seriously injured. Eric Adams, New York Daily News, 22 May 2025 According to naval records, Paul Gauguin’s eyes were brown. Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for naval

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin navalis, from navis ship

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of naval was in the 15th century

Cite this Entry

“Naval.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/naval. Accessed 29 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

naval

adjective
na·​val ˈnā-vəl How to pronounce naval (audio)
: of or relating to a navy or warships

More from Merriam-Webster on naval

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