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noun B2 Upper-Intermediate Common

navigation

na-vih-GAY-shuhn
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Navigation (noun) means the process or skill of planning and following a course of travel. Example: “The sailors used the stars for navigation when the instruments failed.”

noun
1
The process or skill of planning and following a course of travel.
"The sailors used the stars for navigation when the instruments failed."
"Good navigation skills helped the hikers find their way through the fog."
"Modern navigation relies heavily on satellite GPS."
2
The menu or links used to move around a website or app.
"The app's navigation menu is hidden behind a small icon."
"Clear navigation makes a website much easier for visitors to use."
"The site's navigation is at the top of every page."

How to use navigation

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishFinding your way (on a journey) or a website's menu system.

Common pairings
GPS navigation site navigation navigation menu
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Word forms

Plural
navigations
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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The sailors used the stars for _____ when the instruments failed.

Etymology

From Latin navigationem, "sailing," from navigare, "to sail."

Origin: Latin

Related words

Rhymes for navigation

See all rhymes for navigation →

Frequently asked questions

What does “navigation” mean?
The word “navigation” means the process or skill of planning and following a course of travel. In plain terms, finding your way (on a journey) or a website's menu system.
How do you pronounce “navigation”?
“Navigation” is pronounced na-vih-GAY-shuhn (/nævɪˈɡeɪʃən/ in IPA).
How do you use “navigation” in a sentence?
Here is “navigation” used in a sentence: “Modern navigation relies heavily on satellite GPS.”
What part of speech is “navigation”?
“Navigation” is a noun.
Where does the word “navigation” come from?
The word “navigation” comes from Latin. From Latin navigationem, "sailing," from navigare, "to sail.".
Is “navigation” a common word?
“Navigation” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “navigation” have?
“Navigation” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the process or skill of planning and following a course of travel.
What is the difference between navigation and GPS?
Navigation is the whole process or skill of planning and following a course of travel. GPS is one specific tool used for navigation: a satellite positioning system that tells you exactly where you are.
Is navigation countable or uncountable?
Navigation is normally an uncountable noun, so you speak of good navigation rather than "navigations". On the web, phrases like "the navigation" treat a site's menus and links as one system rather than countable items.
What is celestial navigation?
Celestial navigation is the traditional skill of planning and following a course using the positions of the sun, moon, planets, and stars. Sailors relied on it for centuries before satellite systems existed.

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