nautical mile

noun

1. a unit of distance used chiefly in navigation, equal to 6080.20 feet (1853.25 meters) in the United States, now replaced by the international nautical mile.

nautical mile

noun

1. Also calledinternational nautical mileair mile a unit of length, used esp in navigation, equivalent to the average length of a minute of latitude, and corresponding to a latitude of 45°, i.e. 1852 m (6076.12 ft)
2. a former British unit of length equal to 1853.18 m (6080 ft), which was replaced by the international nautical mile in 1970 Former namegeographical mile Compare sea mile

nautical mile

/ nô′tĭ-kəl /

1. A unit of length in the US Customary System, used in air and sea navigation and equal to 6,076 feet or 2,025 yards (1,852 meters).
2. Also called geographic mile
3. See Table at measurement

Word History and Origins

Origin of nautical mile¹

First recorded in 1625–35

Example Sentences

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

The shoal, claimed by China as Xianbin Jiao and as Escoda Shoal by the Philippines, is located some 75 nautical miles from the Philippines' west coast and 630 nautical miles from China.

From BBC

It added that the crew was safe following the incidents, which happened 57 nautical miles south of the Yemeni city of Aden, and the vessel was proceeding to the next port of call.

From BBC

Reports said the drone boats were an upgraded design of the Toofan, a drone boat with a 4,500-pound payload capable of reaching 45 nautical miles per hour.

From Los Angeles Times