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
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
Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world, is drying out for want of rain.
—
Diana Durán, Washington Post, 4 Oct. 2023
This is particularly true as sea ice retreats and thins, offering longer periods when the oceans are navigable.
—Stephen Lezak, The New Republic, 1 Nov. 2023
In his order, the judge ruled that the floating barrier is an obstruction to the navigable capacity of the river and that the move required authorization from Congress, which the state did not receive.
—Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 8 Sep. 2023
The river buoys, the department argued, violate a long-standing federal law that governs structures in navigable waterways.
—Camilo Montoya-Galvez, CBS News, 24 July 2023
Still, it has long been deemed navigable for purposes of federal law and treaties with Mexico.
—Todd J. Gillman, Dallas News, 12 Sep. 2023
The Biden administration argues that Texas violated a federal law that forbids unauthorized construction in navigable waterways.
—Aarón Torres, Dallas News, 7 Sep. 2023
Texas argued the rules didn’t apply because that part of the river is too shallow to be navigable.
—Todd J. Gillman, Dallas News, 8 Sep. 2023
The Justice Department's suit contends that the move violates Section 10 of the U.S. Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899, which says the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers must sign off on any plans to place a wharf, pier, boom breakwater, bulkhead, jetty or other structures in navigable waters.
—John C. Moritz, USA TODAY, 7 Sep. 2023
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Diana Durán, Washington Post, 4 Oct. 2023
This is particularly true as sea ice retreats and thins, offering longer periods when the oceans are navigable.
—Stephen Lezak, The New Republic, 1 Nov. 2023
In his order, the judge ruled that the floating barrier is an obstruction to the navigable capacity of the river and that the move required authorization from Congress, which the state did not receive.
—Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 8 Sep. 2023
The river buoys, the department argued, violate a long-standing federal law that governs structures in navigable waterways.
—Camilo Montoya-Galvez, CBS News, 24 July 2023
Still, it has long been deemed navigable for purposes of federal law and treaties with Mexico.
—Todd J. Gillman, Dallas News, 12 Sep. 2023
The Biden administration argues that Texas violated a federal law that forbids unauthorized construction in navigable waterways.
—Aarón Torres, Dallas News, 7 Sep. 2023
Texas argued the rules didn’t apply because that part of the river is too shallow to be navigable.
—Todd J. Gillman, Dallas News, 8 Sep. 2023
The Justice Department's suit contends that the move violates Section 10 of the U.S. Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899, which says the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers must sign off on any plans to place a wharf, pier, boom breakwater, bulkhead, jetty or other structures in navigable waters.
—John C. Moritz, USA TODAY, 7 Sep. 2023
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'navigable.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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
Dictionary Entries Near navigable
Cite this Entry
“Navigable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/navigable. Accessed 29 Nov. 2023.
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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
More from Merriam-Webster on navigable
Nglish: Translation of navigable for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of navigable for Arabic Speakers
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