corvette

noun

cor·​vette kȯr-ˈvet How to pronounce corvette (audio)
1
: a warship ranking in the old sailing navies next below a frigate
2
: a highly maneuverable armed escort ship that is smaller than a destroyer

Examples of corvette in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The 388-foot-long corvette has a range of 4,500 nautical miles [5,178 miles] with a speed of up to 25 knots [28 miles per hour]. Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025 The Russian corvettes are armed with air defense and anti-ship missiles. Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Newsweek, 4 Feb. 2025 The aircraft took part in the Argentine military operation in January alongside a smaller C-12 surveillance plane and two corvette warships, according to the Argentine navy. Avery Schmitz, CNN, 10 Mar. 2025 The Russian ship under British surveillance, known as the corvette Boikiy, was escorting the merchant vessel the Baltic Leader on its voyage from Syria through the English Channel and North Sea. Russel Honoré, Newsweek, 5 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for corvette

Word History

Etymology

French, from Middle French, probably from Middle Dutch corf, a kind of ship, literally, basket — more at corf

First Known Use

1636, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of corvette was in 1636

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Corvette.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/corvette. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

corvette

noun
cor·​vette kȯr-ˈvet How to pronounce corvette (audio)
1
: an armed naval sailing ship
2
: an armed escort ship that is small and fast

More from Merriam-Webster on corvette

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