navigable

adjective

nav·​i·​ga·​ble ˈna-vi-gə-bəl 

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

ˌna-vi-gə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

navigably

ˈna-vi-gə-blē 

adverb

Synonyms

• cleared
• clear
• passable
• negotiable

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

The energy tightrope that helped China through the supply shocks of the beginning of the war in Ukraine and subsequent global inflation appears to no longer be navigable. —Wesley Alexander Hill, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025

When judges become the arbiters of what constitutes a wetland or navigable water, businesses are left guessing how long a permit will hold, or if it’s needed at all. —John F. McQuillan, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025

The International Hydrographic Organization — of which the United States is a member — works to ensure all the world’s seas, oceans and navigable waters are surveyed and charted uniformly, and also names some of them. —Matthew Lee, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2025

To reach the 100-foot waterfall, tour guides from adventure outfitters (like Kayak Kaua’i) will take travelers on kayaks along the Wailua River, Kaua‘i’s only navigable river. —Rachel Ng, AFAR Media, 7 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

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

Kids Definition

navigable

adjective

nav·​i·​ga·​ble ˈnav-i-gə-bəl 

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

ˌnav-i-gə-ˈbil-ət-ē 

noun