nautical

adjective

nau·​ti·​cal ˈnȯ-ti-kəl How to pronounce nautical (audio)
ˈnä-
Synonyms of nautical
: of, relating to, or associated with sailors, navigation, or ships
a dictionary of nautical terms
nautical flags
nautical skills
nautically
ˈnȯ-ti-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce nautical (audio)
ˈnä-
adverb

Synonyms of nautical

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Examples of nautical in a Sentence

a dictionary of nautical terms collected sextants and other antique nautical equipment
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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
At Talbots, this popular pair is $40 off — plus, consider other cropped styles with airy linen and nautical stripes. — Nicol Natale, PEOPLE, 17 July 2026 Choose a nautical blue pair for a Costa Brava day trip to Dali’s beloved Cadaqués or a rustic tan style to visit medieval Toledo, just 35 mins from Madrid by train. — Jessica Benavides Canepa, Travel + Leisure, 16 July 2026 Evoke the spirit of Nantucket with a table decked in nautical blues and white. — Sarah Halverson, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 July 2026 The show, created by Stephen Hillenburg, made its official debut after that on July 17, 1999, and it's been nautical nonsense from that day on. — Bianca Harris, USA Today, 15 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for nautical

Word History

Etymology

Latin nauticus, from Greek nautikos, from nautēs sailor, from naus ship — more at nave

First Known Use

1552, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of nautical was in 1552

Phrases Containing nautical

Rhymes for nautical

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Browse Nearby Words

nauther
nautical
nautical astronomy
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Cite this Entry

“Nautical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nautical. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

nautical

adjective
nau·​ti·​cal ˈnȯt-i-kəl How to pronounce nautical (audio)
ˈnät-
: of or relating to sailors, navigation, or ships
nautically
-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce nautical (audio)
adverb
Etymology

from Latin nauticus "nautical," from Greek nautikos (same meaning), from nautēs "sailor," from naus "ship" — related to astronaut, nausea see Word History at nausea

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Nglish: Translation of nautical for Spanish Speakers

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