corvette

noun

cor·​vette kȯr-ˈvet 

1

: a warship ranking in the old sailing navies next below a frigate

2

: a highly maneuverable armed escort ship that is smaller than a destroyer

Examples of corvette in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

On November 3, 2024, a detachment of ships of the Pacific Fleet consisting of corvettes Gromky, Rezky and Hero of Russia Aldar Tsydenzhapov and support vessel Pechenga arrived on a friendly call at the port of Tanjung Perak in Surabaya. —Ryan Chan, Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2024

According to Anton Gerashchenko, a former advisor to the interior ministry in Kyiv, the explosion damaged three ships, including two Gepard-class frigates—the fleet’s biggest ships—as well as a smaller Buyan corvette. —David Axe, Forbes, 6 Nov. 2024

The real showstopper here is the life-sized pink corvette parked on the fourth floor of the museum, which guests can sit inside for a selfie. —Nadja Sayej, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024

Its maritime arm dispatched frigates and corvettes to patrol the coastal waters with little event. —Tracy Wilkinson, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

French, from Middle French, probably from Middle Dutch corf, a kind of ship, literally, basket — more at corf

First Known Use

1636, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

corvette

noun

cor·​vette kȯr-ˈvet 

1

: an armed naval sailing ship

2

: an armed escort ship that is small and fast