/ ˈneɪvi; NAmE / noun ( pl. -ies )
1.
[ C +sing./pl. v . ] the part of a country's armed forces that fights at sea, and the ships that it uses :
the British and German navies
He's joined the navy / the Navy .
an officer in the navy / the Navy
The navy is / are considering buying six new warships.
—see also naval (2)
2.
[ U ] = navy blue
For more information see the Cultural Guide
••
WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English (in the sense ships collectively, fleet ): from Old French navie ship, fleet, from popular Latin navia ship, from Latin navis ship.