navy

[ ney-vee ]

noun

, plural na·vies.

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 ( def 1 ).
5. Archaic. a fleet of ships.

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

/ ˈneɪvɪ /

noun

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

Other Words From

• pro·na·vy adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of navy¹

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 )

Word History and Origins

Origin of navy¹

C14: via Old French from Vulgar Latin nāvia (unattested) ship, from Latin nāvis ship

Example Sentences

Navy to protect their comms, the browser’s code was made public in the mid-2000s and TOR became a nonprofit aimed at helping activists in authoritarian regimes bypass the censors.

From Salon

Navy, was sentenced to five years of probation and 90 days in jail for grand theft of property on Jan. 25, 1994, in San Diego County Superior Court.

From Los Angeles Times

Upgrade requests for “don’t ask, don’t tell”-era veterans have increased across the board, but the Navy and Marine Corps still deny 23% and 18%, respectively, of these upgrade requests.

From Los Angeles Times

In Glasgow’s George Square, mourners joined veterans and current service personnel in laying wreaths, with a guard of honour presented by representatives of the Royal Navy.

From BBC

Navy blue shines in the fall and will wear beautifully over time.

From Los Angeles Times