merchant navy
noun /ˌmɜːtʃənt ˈneɪvi/
/ˌmɜːrtʃənt ˈneɪvi/
(British English) (North American English merchant marine)
[countable + singular or plural verb]- a country’s commercial ships and the people who work on themCultureThe 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 AtlanticTopics War and conflictc2