boatman

noun

boat·​man ˈbōt-mən How to pronounce boatman (audio)
: a man who works on, deals in, or operates boats

Examples of boatman in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Ancona is one of the few boatmen who have a license to carry tourists into the reserve. — Simon Willis, Travel + Leisure, 5 Oct. 2025 Two boatmen, rowing a wooden canoe, chased it a mile downstream. — Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2025 Cove, 2025, the right panel of a triptych, appears at first to be a pastoral scene of boatmen on a tropical shore. — James Meyer, Artforum, 1 Jan. 2026 Volunteer lifeguards and local boatmen offer surf lessons for newer riders or even experienced wave riders who want to better understand the lay of the underwater land. — Noah Lederman, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2024 See All Example Sentences for boatman

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of boatman was in the 13th century

Phrases Containing boatman

Browse Nearby Words

boatload
boatman
boatmanship
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Boatman.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/boatman. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

boatman

noun
boat·​man ˈbōt-mən How to pronounce boatman (audio)
: a person who manages, works on, or deals in boats

More from Merriam-Webster on boatman

Nglish: Translation of boatman for Spanish Speakers

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