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
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.
Chinese military affairs expert Song Zhongping said the Type 076 amphibious assault ship marks a significant technological advance, introducing new possibilities for naval operations. — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 2 Aug. 2026 Unless Washington provides another naval destroyer, he will be forced to choose defense of the United States over Israel, the report claimed, as the Iran war has put a strain on Washington’s military arsenal. — Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 1 Aug. 2026 That cooperation was also seen in recent joint Russia-China naval drills, and in North Korea sending troops to fight in the Russia-Ukraine war. — Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 31 July 2026 On July 20, the Houthis officially declared a naval blockade aimed at shutting down Saudi oil exports going through the Red Sea shipping chokepoint in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 30 July 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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See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Naval.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/naval. Accessed 5 Aug. 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

More from Merriam-Webster on naval

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for naval

Nglish: Translation of naval for Spanish Speakers

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