nautical

[ naw-ti-kuhl, not-i- ]

adjective

1. of or relating to sailors, ships, or navigation:

   nautical terms.

   Synonyms: seagoing, maritime, marine

nautical

/ ˈnɔːtɪkəl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or involving ships, navigation, or sailors

Derived Forms

• ˈnautically, adverb

Other Words From

• nau·ti·cal·i·ty [naw-ti-, kal, -i-tee, not-i-], noun
• nauti·cal·ly adverb
• non·nauti·cal adjective
• non·nauti·cal·ly adverb
• un·nauti·cal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of nautical¹

1545–55; < Latin nautic ( us ) pertaining to ships or sailors (< Greek nautikós, equivalent to naû ( s ) ship + -tikos -tic ) + -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of nautical¹

C16: from Latin nauticus, from Greek nautikos, from naus ship

Example Sentences

There are "heavily armed gladiators riding a charging rhinoceros" and "wounded men tumbling from boats into the jaws of ravenous sharks" during the nautical battle staged in the flooded pit of the Colosseum.

From BBC

For another month, he and his crew will continue their search, covering more than 1,500 square nautical miles of uncharted ocean.

From Los Angeles Times

Portsmouth-based HMS Trent said its boarding team – comprising US Coast Guard personnel, Royal Marines and specialist sailors – climbed aboard the drugs vessel 190 nautical miles south of the Dominican Republic.

From BBC

It said two people were arrested and 12 bales of drugs were seized following the operation 90 nautical miles north of the "narco-sub".

From BBC

"We talked about scouting... Ruth had been part of the girls nautical training corps in Porthcawl when she was younger," said group scout leader Nicola Thompson.

From BBC

Related Words

• maritime
• navigational
• seafaring