navy
- 01 B1 Intermediate
n.the part of a country's armed forces that uses ships and submarines to fight at sea.
n.a nation's entire maritime military force, including its personnel, vessels, and supporting infrastructure.
Simple“He decided to join the navy because he wanted to travel the world by sea.”
In context“The government announced a significant increase in funding for the navy to modernise its aging fleet of destroyers and submarines.”
UsageOften used with 'the' as a collective noun.
Synonyms - 02 B1 Intermediate
n.a very dark shade of blue, like the colour of many police or sailor uniforms.
n.a dark blue colour, frequently referred to as navy blue, traditionally associated with naval uniforms.
Simple“She wore a smart suit in navy for her job interview.”
In context“The interior designer recommended painting the accent wall in a deep navy to provide a sophisticated contrast with the white marble fireplace.”
UsageCan be used as an uncountable noun or as a modifier before another noun.
Synonymsdark bluemidnight blue - 03 B1 Intermediate
adj.having a very dark blue colour.
adj.possessing the specific dark blue hue characteristic of navy blue.
Simple“He bought a navy sweater that matched his eyes perfectly.”
In context“The bridesmaids were dressed in elegant navy gowns that complemented the nautical theme of the seaside wedding.”
UsageUsually placed before the noun it describes.
Synonymsdark blue - 04 C2 Proficiency
n.a large group of ships belonging to one person or country.
n.any fleet of maritime vessels, including commercial or military ships belonging to a specific nationality.
Simple“The merchant sent his navy across the ocean to trade spices.”
In context“The historical chronicle describes how the merchant navy of the republic dominated trade routes throughout the Mediterranean for centuries.”
Teacher's tipThis sense is rarely found in modern speech; it is mostly encountered in historical texts or classic literature.
From Middle English nave, navye, from Anglo-Norman, Old French navie, from Latin nāvigia < nāvigium, from Latin nāvigō, nāvis (“boat”), from Proto-Indo-European *néh₂us. Compare Ancient Greek ναῦς (naûs, “ship”), Persian ناو (nâv, “boat, warship”), Sanskrit नाव (nāva, “ship”), Old English nōwend (“mariner, sailor”). Displaced native Old English sċiphere (literally “ship army”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.