navigable

adjective

nav·​i·​ga·​ble ˈna-vi-gə-bəl How to pronounce navigable (audio)
1
a
: deep enough and wide enough to afford passage to ships
navigable waterways
b
: capable of being navigated
navigable terrain
2
: capable of being steered
navigability noun
navigably adverb

Examples of navigable in a Sentence

The marsh was navigable only by canoe. this map shows which rivers are navigable and which aren't
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.
Historically, high copper and zinc levels have been found in the stream, which is technically classified as a navigable waterway. Laura Schulte, jsonline.com, 1 Aug. 2025 The Games app will work in both portrait and landscape mode and be navigable via controller. ArsTechnica, 9 June 2025 Reduction in sea ice due to climate change means chokepoints such as the Bering Strait between Alaska and Russia and the Barents Sea north of Norway, are becoming more navigable and more economically and militarily significant. Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 June 2025 These translucent creatures populate the longest navigable underground river in the U.S. where visitors can ride boats and kayaks travelling under the stalactites stretching from above. Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 15 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for navigable

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Navigable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/navigable. Accessed 8 Aug. 2025.

Kids Definition

navigable

adjective
nav·​i·​ga·​ble ˈnav-i-gə-bəl How to pronounce navigable (audio)
1
a
: deep and wide enough to permit passage to ships
navigable rivers
b
: capable of being navigated
navigable terrain
2
: capable of being steered
a navigable balloon
navigability noun

More from Merriam-Webster on navigable

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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