navy
Americannoun
plural
navies-
the whole body of warships and auxiliaries belonging to a country or ruler.
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(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.
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(often initial capital letter) the department of government charged with its management.
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Archaic. a fleet of ships.
noun
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the warships and auxiliary vessels of a nation or ruler
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(often capital) the branch of a country's armed services comprising such ships, their crews, and all their supporting services and equipment
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short for navy blue
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archaic a fleet of ships
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( as modifier )
a navy custom
Other Word Forms
- pronavy adjective
Etymology
Origin of navy
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 )
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.
In Bahrain's capital Manama, residents were hurriedly evacuated from the Juffair district housing the US navy's Fifth Fleet, whose base was hit in the attack.
From Barron's
According to the Swedish authorities, its navy jammed the drone using electronic signals to attempt to break the connection between the aircraft and its operator, or disrupt its navigation tools.
From Barron's
The military's statement said that box extended "up to the northern tip of Luzon, particularly Mavulis Island", which hosts small Philippine navy and marine detachments.
From Barron's
"The US has made it very clear -- it's set out in their legislation -- that no submarines can be sold to us unless the president certifies essentially that their navy doesn't require them," he said.
From Barron's
The Indian navy is the world’s fifth largest by tonnage and is one of only eight navies to operate aircraft carriers.
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.
