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Definition of nautical

nautical

/ˈnɔːtɪkəl/
nau · ti · cal
Adverb:nautically
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nautical Lexical Profile

nautical Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Of, relating to, or involving sailors, ships, or navigation on the sea.

Example

"The coastal museum features a vast collection of historical nautical instruments, including brass sextants and compasses."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for nautical
Antonyms
View all antonyms for nautical

Word Nuance & Usage

While often used interchangeably with 'marine' and 'maritime', 'nautical' specifically refers to ships, sailors, and navigation, whereas 'marine' relates to the physical sea and its organisms, and 'maritime' pertains to coastal commerce, law, or proximity to the sea.

• Rhymes for nautical

• Nearby Words

nauseous
nauseously
nauseousness
nautical
nautically
nautilocalyx
nautilus

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the mid-16th century from French 'nautique' or Latin 'nauticus', from Ancient Greek 'nautikos', derived from 'nautēs' (sailor) and 'naus' (ship).

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Nautical. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/nautical
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