corvette

noun

cor·​vette kȯr-ˈvet How to pronounce corvette (audio)
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
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.
What To Know In early February, the Russian navy dispatched two corvettes, the Rezky and the Hero of the Russian Federation Aldar Tsydenzhapov, as well as the fleet oiler Pechenga, from their Far Eastern naval base in the city of Vladivostok for a deployment in the Asia-Pacific region. Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Apr. 2025 The 388-foot-long corvette has a range of 4,500 nautical miles [5,178 miles] with a speed of up to 25 knots [28 miles per hour]. Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025 The Russian corvettes are armed with air defense and anti-ship missiles. Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Newsweek, 4 Feb. 2025 The aircraft took part in the Argentine military operation in January alongside a smaller C-12 surveillance plane and two corvette warships, according to the Argentine navy. Avery Schmitz, CNN, 10 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for corvette

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of corvette was in 1636

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Cite this Entry

“Corvette.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/corvette. Accessed 24 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

corvette

noun
cor·​vette kȯr-ˈvet How to pronounce corvette (audio)
1
: an armed naval sailing ship
2
: an armed escort ship that is small and fast

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