navy

American  

[ney-vee] / ˈneɪ vi /

noun

PLURAL

navies

1. the whole body of warships and auxiliaries belonging to a country or ruler.

2. (often initial capital letter)  the complete body of such warships together with their officers and enlisted personnel, equipment, yards, etc., constituting the sea power of a nation.

3. (often initial capital letter)  the department of government charged with its management.

4. navy blue.

5. Archaic.  a fleet of ships.

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adjective

1. belonging or connected to a navy; naval.

   navy vessels in the harbor;

   a navy officer with combat experience aboard a submarine.

2. of the color navy blue.

   Either tie will look great with your navy suit.

navy British  

/ ˈneɪvɪ /

noun

1. the warships and auxiliary vessels of a nation or ruler

2. (often capital) the branch of a country's armed services comprising such ships, their crews, and all their supporting services and equipment

3. short for navy blue

4. archaic  a fleet of ships

5. ( as modifier )

   a navy custom

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Other Word Forms

• pronavy adjective

Etymology

Origin of navy

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English navie, from Middle French, from unattested Vulgar Latin navia, equivalent to Latin nāv(is) “ship” + -ia noun suffix ( -y ³ )

Example Sentences

Rescue operations have been hindered by the fast-flowing river waters, a navy official told AFP.

From BBC

Taiwan's navy currently has two working submarines, Swordfish-class vessels bought from the Netherlands in the 1980s.

From Barron's

Troops from the army, navy, and air force have been deployed alongside civilian workers and volunteers to assist with the relief effort.

From Barron's

Medical teams on board the aircraft carrier will convert it into a "floating hospital" if required, the navy said.

From BBC

Wearing a navy blue outfit and white turban, another refugee, Youssouf, was sitting under a shed, his eyes reflecting the trauma of his experiences, when the BBC met him.

From BBC