naval

adjective

na·​val ˈnā-vəl 

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

What to know After U.S. negotiators met teams from Russia and Ukraine separately, Washington announced Tuesday there was an agreement for a naval ceasefire in the Black Sea and that all parties would continue working toward a lasting peace. —Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Mar. 2025

An accompanying view that naval and army warfare is somewhat separate has continued. —Colin Flint, The Conversation, 25 Mar. 2025

Both ships are part of the naval task group that sailed around Australia with the destroyer CNS Zunyi. —Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 20 Mar. 2025

Subscribe to Foreign Affairs This Week Our editors’ top picks, delivered free to your inbox every Friday. BLAST FROM THE PAST Historically, naval warfare has been extremely destructive. —Stephen Biddle, Foreign Affairs, 19 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin navalis, from navis ship

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing naval

• chief of naval operations
• naval architect
• naval stores

Rhymes for naval

• navel
• primaeval

Kids Definition

naval

adjective

na·​val ˈnā-vəl 

: of or relating to a navy or warships