navigation

noun

nav·​i·​ga·​tion ˌna-və-ˈgā-shən 

1

: the act or practice of navigating

2

: the science of getting vehicles from place to place

especially : the method of determining position, course, and distance traveled

3

: ship traffic or commerce

navigational

ˌna-və-ˈgā-sh(ə-)nəl 

adjective

navigationally adverb

Examples of navigation in a Sentence

If you're going to be a good sailor you need to master navigation.

I don't mind driving if you're willing to do the navigation.

Our new car has an onboard navigation system.

Navigation becomes more difficult further upriver.

There are back and forward buttons for easier browser navigation.

Recent Examples on the Web

When driving to either district, heed the National Park Service’s official navigation recommendation: Don’t rely on the Google Maps locations. —Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 25 Jan. 2025

On the bottom of the screen is a navigation panel with additional tabs labeled Discover, Metabolism, Profile, and Zones. —PCMAG, 24 Jan. 2025

However, while Apple and Samsung’s versions support a range of app and notification types, including live sports scores, the Android 16 implementation is so far limited to progress trackers, and Google suggests it should only be used for ride-sharing, food delivery, and navigation apps. —Dominic Preston, The Verge, 23 Jan. 2025

Are there risks to changing place names? For navigation purposes, consistency in naming is vital. —Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY, 22 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1547, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing navigation

• celestial navigation

Kids Definition

navigation

noun

nav·​i·​ga·​tion ˌnav-ə-ˈgā-shən 

1

: the act or practice of navigating

2

: the science of getting ships, aircraft, or spacecraft from place to place

especially : the method of figuring out position, course, and distance traveled

navigational

-shnəl 

-shən-ᵊl

adjective