Word
Definitions
01person on a ship or plane
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a person on a ship or aircraft who is responsible for finding the correct direction and path.
n. a crew member or officer responsible for the navigation of a vessel or aircraft.
“The navigator checked the charts to make sure the ship was still on course.”
“During the long-haul flight, the navigator constantly monitored the wind speeds and adjusted the flight path to conserve fuel.”
02GPS or electronic device
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a device, like a GPS in a car, that shows you the way to a destination.
n. an electronic device or software system that provides directions and tracks the position of a vehicle.
“I entered the hotel address into the car's navigator before we started driving.”
“The satellite navigator recalculated the route within seconds after the driver missed the turn-off for the motorway.”
Usage
Often shortened to 'satnav' in British English.
Synonyms
03software interface
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Computing Technical
n. a part of a computer program that helps you move through different files or pages.
n. a graphical user interface element designed to facilitate movement through a complex data structure or website.
“Use the navigator on the left side of the screen to find your documents.”
“The software update included a sidebar navigator that allowed users to jump between project folders without closing their current window.”
04canal labourer
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Archaic · British English
n. a worker who helped build canals or railways a long time ago.
n. a manual labourer employed in the construction of major civil engineering projects such as canals or railways.
“Thousands of navigators worked in difficult conditions to build the new canal system.”
“The local museum features an exhibit on the navigators who hand-dug the regional railway tunnels during the nineteenth century.”
Usage
Usually shortened to 'navvy' in historical contexts.
Teaching tip
This sense is strictly historical; modern learners will almost exclusively encounter the word in maritime or technological contexts.
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“When Portuguese navigators reached the region, they noticed its small, grapelike, air-filled bladders that keep the seaweed afloat.” “GUIDE stands for Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience and is a new Medicare program that provides a trained dementia care navigator to individuals affected by dementia.” Etymology
From Latin nāvigātor. By surface analysis, navigate + -or.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/navigator
「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0