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

During the June 19 episode, the 90210 star asked Eden about wearing the iconic Jeannie costume, which featured pink and red pants, a matching bralette, headpiece and short jacket, leaving her navel exposed (but crucially not her belly button). —Victoria Edel, People.com, 20 June 2025

The center of the navel, your lower back, your upper back, the center of your chest, your shoulders. —Rosie Acosta, Outside Online, 17 Apr. 2025

Exhale and round your spine, tucking your tailbone and drawing your navel toward the ceiling. —Christine Yu, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2025

Some commentators claim that Leonardo positioned the navel to divide the man’s height according to the golden ratio. —Steven Strogatz, New York Times, 16 June 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