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

But analysts warn that Iran’s naval threat was never dependent on large ships. —Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 28 Mar. 2026

But Kharg is just one of dozens of Iranian islands in the gulf, and others may be more important to securing the safe passage of ships – and naval vessels – through the Strait of Hormuz. —Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 28 Mar. 2026

The senior Israeli security official who spoke anonymously with ABC News said Israel was working on the assumption that Iran had laid naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz. —Tom Soufi Burridge, ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026

In those early days a US submarine sunk an Iranian naval vessel thousands of miles from the conflict—a vessel that had been taking part in an exchange visit in India. —Bill McKibben, The New York Review of Books, 27 Mar. 2026

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