the ship's officer in charge of navigation
"The navigator carefully adjusted the course to avoid the storm ahead."
the member of an aircrew who is responsible for the aircraft's course
"The navigator carefully monitored the instruments to ensure the jet stayed on its intended flight path across the ocean."
in earlier times, a person who explored by ship
"Captain Cook became a famous navigator during his voyages across the Pacific Ocean in the eighteenth century."
A person who navigates, especially an officer with that responsibility on a ship or an aircrew member with that responsibility on an aircraft.
"The navigator plotted the course and ensured the ship stayed on track through the stormy seas."
In plain English: A navigator is someone who guides others through unfamiliar places by knowing how to read maps and follow directions.
"The ship's navigator used the stars to find their way across the ocean at night."
Usage: Use this word to describe the specific crew member responsible for determining and maintaining course during travel by sea or air. Do not confuse it with general guides like "pilot" unless referring specifically to aviation roles where duties may overlap.
The word navigator comes from the Latin term nāvigātor, which originally meant a person who sails or steers a ship. It entered English through the verb "navigate," combining that action with the suffix "-or" to denote an agent performing it.