In maritime operations, this describes anything belonging to a state's military sea force as opposed to the merchant marine. It also applies broadly to the engineering science of all watercraft, known as naval architecture. Seafarers use the term to distinguish military vessels, protocols and personnel from commercial shipping.
Heard on the job
The coast guard hailed us on VHF 16, but they looked like a full naval patrol.
Insider tip
Merchant sailors often use naval as a mild pejorative for excessive bureaucracy or overly rigid procedures.
Do not mix it up with
- Marine: Naval refers specifically to military sea forces and ship engineering, while marine covers everything related to the sea and commercial shipping.