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Vocabulary Builder — Essay & Answer Writing

Frigate

noun / FRIG-ut / Medium
Meaning

A medium-sized naval warship designed for escort, patrol, and anti-submarine warfare — larger than a corvette but smaller than a destroyer

Origin / Etymology

Italian fregata (a type of light, fast vessel) — possibly from Latin fabricata (built thing)

Synonyms
Escort vessel Warship
Antonyms
Example Sentence
"INS Taragiri, the fourth Nilgiri-class (Project 17A) stealth frigate, was commissioned into the Indian Navy at Visakhapatnam in April 2026, equipped with BrahMos missiles and advanced stealth features."
🎯 UPSC Usage

Used in defence and security contexts. Know the hierarchy: corvette < frigate < destroyer < cruiser < aircraft carrier. India's Nilgiri-class (Project 17A) are stealth frigates (7 ships). Frigates are the workhorses of modern navies — used for convoy escort, anti-submarine warfare, and patrol.

Relevant Subjects
Security Defence
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