corvette

noun

cor·​vette kȯr-ˈvet 

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

The real showstopper here is the life-sized pink corvette parked on the fourth floor of the museum, which guests can sit inside for a selfie. —Nadja Sayej, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024

Its maritime arm dispatched frigates and corvettes to patrol the coastal waters with little event. —Tracy Wilkinson, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2024

In the past decade, the PLA Navy has also made major advances in corvette construction, built eight destroyers, and completed the aircraft carriers Shandong and Fujian. —Seth G. Jones, Foreign Affairs, 2 Oct. 2024

Cambodia’s own smaller corvettes dock at a much more modest pier to the south. —Agnes Chang, New York Times, 14 July 2024

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

Kids Definition

corvette

noun

cor·​vette kȯr-ˈvet 

1

: an armed naval sailing ship

2

: an armed escort ship that is small and fast