navy

noun

na·​vy ˈnā-vē 

plural navies

1

: a group of ships : fleet

2

: a nation's ships of war and of logistic support

3

often Navy : the complete naval establishment of a nation including yards, stations, ships, and personnel

4

: a dark grayish purplish blue

Examples of navy in a Sentence

A similar submarine is used by several foreign navies.

a career in the navy

The shirt comes in black, white, and navy.

Recent Examples on the Web

China claims the self-governing island as part of its territory, and has sent fighter jets and navy ships to the island on a daily basis as part of military exercises. — ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026

In February, the Chinese navy announced that the YJ-19 had entered service aboard its Type 039B diesel-electric submarine. — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 9 Aug. 2026

Christine Wessling chose to modify her home’s 35-year-old laminate kitchen cabinets with navy paint. — Sarah Lyon, The Spruce, 8 Aug. 2026

Allen was a navy veteran and retired bus driver, his family told CNN affiliate KSDK. — Rebekah Riess, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English navie, from Anglo-French, from Latin navigia ships, from navigare

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing navy

• master chief petty officer of the navy
• navy bean
• navy blue
• navy yard

Rhymes for navy

• gravy
• wavy

Kids Definition

navy

noun

na·​vy ˈnā-vē 

plural navies

1

: a fleet of ships

2

: a nation's warships

3

often capitalized : a nation's complete equipment and organization for sea warfare

4

: a dark purplish blue