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Synonyms

navigator

American  
[nav-i-gey-ter] / ˈnæv ɪˌgeɪ tər /

noun

  1. a person who navigates.

  2. a person who practices, or is skilled in, navigation, as of ships or aircraft.

  3. a person who conducts explorations by sea.

  4. British. a navvy.

navigator British  
/ ˈnævɪˌɡeɪtə /

noun

  1. a person who is skilled in or performs navigation, esp on a ship or aircraft

  2. (esp formerly) a person who explores by ship

  3. an instrument or device for assisting a pilot to navigate an aircraft

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of navigator

First recorded in 1580–90, navigator is from the Latin word nāvigātor a sailor, mariner. See navigate, -tor

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Israel's military said Saturday it had carried out an operation overnight in Lebanon to find Arad's remains but had failed to uncover any trace of the navigator missing since 1986.

From Barron's • Mar. 7, 2026

Lying 2,000 miles west of the South American coast and more than 1,000 miles from the nearest settlement, a tiny island was visited by Jacob Roggeveen, a Dutch navigator, on Easter Sunday 1722.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 20, 2026

She won Ladies' Cups and as navigator to husband Ian they won the Coupe des Alpes three times in the tough Alpine Rally.

From BBC • Dec. 18, 2025

But this is where it will pay off to have assistance from an agent, broker, accredited ACA navigator or other professional who understands the nuances of the marketplace.

From MarketWatch • Nov. 13, 2025

Sometimes pilot and navigator both fell asleep in flight.

From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.