frigate

American  

[frig-it] / ˈfrɪg ɪt /

noun

1. a fast naval vessel of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, generally having a lofty ship rig and heavily armed on one or two decks.

2. any of various types of modern naval vessels ranging in size from a destroyer escort to a cruiser, frequently armed with guided missiles and used for aircraft carrier escort duty, shore bombardment, and miscellaneous combat functions.

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frigate British  

/ ˈfrɪɡɪt /

noun

1. a medium-sized square-rigged warship of the 18th and 19th centuries

2. 1. a warship larger than a corvette and smaller than a destroyer

   2. (formerly) a warship larger than a destroyer and smaller than a cruiser

   3. a small escort vessel

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Etymology

Origin of frigate

1575–85; < Middle French frégate < Italian fregata, Sicilian fragata (> Spanish, Catalan, Pg); of obscure origin

Compare meaning

How does frigate compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• frigate vs. destroyer
• frigate vs. corvette

Example Sentences

The boat crews try to slip past or outrun whatever Colombia and the U.S. put in front of them: coastal patrol boats to frigates and helicopters farther out.

From The Wall Street Journal

Past work on the Constellation-class frigates has exposed how much the U.S. lags behind other countries’ shipbuilding capacity.

From The Wall Street Journal

The company -- the leading shipbuilder for the Dutch navy -- employs some 12,500 people and owns several shipyards across the world, constructing notably frigates, combat support vessels and maritime patrol ships.

From Barron's

A recent announcement by Norway to buy Type 26 antisubmarine frigates is expected to lead to a substantial order, which would be booked after 2025, the company said.

From The Wall Street Journal

A new class of frigates is also in the works.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• sailboat
• ship
• vessel
• warship