English Reference
Adjective

nautical

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˈnɔtəkəɫ/ UK /nˈɔːtɪkəl/ nau·ti·cal UK spelling nauticals

adj.relating to ships, sailors, or travel on the ocean. You use it to describe things that have a sea-themed style.

adj.relating to sailors, navigation, or ships. Often used to describe aesthetic choices or technical aspects of maritime life.


SIMPLE

The room is decorated in a nautical style.

CONTEXTUAL

The captain used various nautical charts to navigate the ship safely through the narrow channel.

COMPLEX

The coastal town's architecture is steeped in nautical history, with many buildings featuring salvaged timber from old shipwrecks and weather-beaten brass fittings.

Usage

Typically used attributively before a noun.

It sank about 14 nautical miles (26km) off the coast of Zarzis.

Al Jazeera· 25 Aug 2026

The new recruits didn’t need nautical training; they were seasoned seafarers who had battled rough waters and gale-force winds.

Smithsonian Magazine· 22 Jun 2026

Borrowed from Middle French nautique + -al, from Latin nauticus (“of or relating to sailors”), from Ancient Greek ναυτικός (nautikós).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Ancient Greek ναυτικός
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated