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Definition of merchant navy noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

merchant navy

noun

/ˌmɜːtʃənt ˈneɪvi/

/ˌmɜːrtʃənt ˈneɪvi/

(British English)

(North American English merchant marine)

[countable + singular or plural verb]

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a country’s commercial ships and the people who work on them
- The merchant navy is/are vital to both our economy and our national security.
CultureThe British merchant navy was very important during both world wars for the continued supply of goods to Britain from abroad, and many of its ships were sunk by enemy submarines.see also the Battle of the Atlantic
Topics War and conflictc2

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