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

In Delphi's golden age, when the ancients held it to be the navel of the world

—Henry Kamm

Synonyms

• 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 is not a condemnation; there are bad brains and there are good navels. —Sloane Crosley, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025

Men should cover their bodies from the navel to the knees — while women must cover their entire body aside from face and hands. —Ashley J. Dimella, FOXNews.com, 24 July 2025

Lesions in navels, ears, dehorning or branding sites. —Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 July 2025

The breast pocket is just to the left of Theo’s navel. —Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 21 July 2025

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
• primaeval

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