naval

adjective

na·​val ˈnā-vəl How to pronounce naval (audio)
Synonyms of navalnext
1
obsolete : of or relating to ships or shipping
2
a
: of or relating to a navy
b
: consisting of or involving warships

Examples of naval in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Mexican naval authorities have deployed six units and a specialized search aircraft, with crews searching more than 9,900 square nautical miles, according to reports. — Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 21 Oct. 2026 Separately, Iranian state-run media reported on Tuesday that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed that two oil tankers hit naval mines south of the Strait of Hormuz. — ABC News, 20 Oct. 2026 Iran’s military has been devastated by American attacks, but the Iranian forces have continued to launch missiles, drones and naval operations to inflict damage in the region. — Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 20 Oct. 2026 The resulting arms race forced the United Kingdom to nearly double naval spending between 1900 and 1914 and clashed with the Liberal government’s new social spending commitments, such as the Old Age Pension Act of 1908. — Niall Ferguson, Foreign Affairs, 20 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for naval

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin navalis, from navis ship

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of naval was in the 15th century

Phrases Containing naval

Rhymes for naval

See All Rhymes for naval

Browse Nearby Words

Navajo stitch
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Cite this Entry

“Naval.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/naval. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

naval

adjective
na·​val ˈnā-vəl How to pronounce naval (audio)
: of or relating to a navy or warships

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