Origin: Latin suffix -tion
Navigation has 4 different meanings across 1 category:
the guidance of ships or airplanes from place to place
"The crew practiced their emergency navigation procedures after the sudden storm damaged the ship's radar systems."
the work of a sailor
"After months at sea, the captain finally handed over navigation to his first mate during the stormy night."
The theory, practice and technology of charting a course for a ship, aircraft or spaceship or (colloquially) road vehicle.
"After hours of studying complex maps, the crew finally mastered the navigation required to guide their spacecraft through the asteroid field."
In plain English: Navigation is the act of finding your way from one place to another.
"The new app makes navigation through the busy city streets much easier."
Usage: Use navigation to describe the act of planning and following a route from one place to another, whether by sea, air, or land. It refers specifically to the process of determining direction and position rather than the tools used to assist in that task.
The word "navigation" entered English via Middle French and Latin, originally referring to the act or art of sailing a ship. While it is formed from the root for "to sail," its usage in modern contexts has expanded far beyond maritime travel.