navigable

[ nav-i-guh-buhl ]

adjective

1. deep and wide enough to provide passage to ships:

   a navigable channel.

2. capable of being steered or guided, as a ship, aircraft, or missile.
3. Computers. designed or arranged in a way that facilitates moving from web page to web page or from one section to another on a website.

navigable

/ ˈnævɪɡəbəl /

adjective

1. wide, deep, or safe enough to be sailed on or through

   a navigable channel

2. capable of being steered or controlled

   a navigable raft

Derived Forms

• ˌnavigaˈbility, noun
• ˈnavigably, adverb

Other Words From

• nav·i·ga·bil·i·ty [nav-i-g, uh, -, bil, -i-tee], nav·i·ga·ble·ness noun
• nav·i·ga·bly adverb
• non·nav·i·ga·bil·i·ty noun
• non·nav·i·ga·ble adjective
• non·nav·i·ga·ble·ness noun
• non·nav·i·ga·bly adverb
• un·nav·i·ga·bil·i·ty noun
• un·nav·i·ga·ble adjective
• un·nav·i·ga·ble·ness noun
• un·nav·i·ga·bly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of navigable¹

First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin nāvigābilis, equivalent to nāvigā(re) “to sail” ( navigate ) + -bilis -ble

Example Sentences

Year after year, Caltrans moves mountains to keep that two-lane road navigable.

From Los Angeles Times

And he looked at another case about navigable water rights in the states and pieces these together, with no basis, to say, well, it's really important for the federal government to treat states the same, and the states have sovereign rights.

From Salon

Year after year, Caltrans moves mountains to keep that two-lane road navigable.

From Los Angeles Times

A 280-foot-wide, 35-foot-deep channel leading to the port is expected to be opened first, allowing for container ships and vessels transporting automobiles, the Army corps, which maintains the shipping channel to ensure that it is navigable, said in a statement.

From New York Times

Army Corps of Engineers, which maintains the shipping channel in Baltimore to ensure that it is navigable, would fully cover the costs of clearing the channel.

From New York Times

Related Words

• passable