corsair

noun

cor·sair ˈkȯr-ˌser kȯr-ˈser

Synonyms of corsair

: pirate

especially : a privateer of the Barbary Coast

Examples of corsair in a Sentence

no one knows the fate of the corsair's treasure-filled ship

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.

In the 1790s, the United States faced a world ruled by corsairs and kings. — Washington Post, 12 Jan. 2026 Rich gives Marge an eye patch that belonged to a corsair his ancestors knew in Cuba. — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025 If peaceable trading isn't your dream, consider the corsair life, pillaging other ships for their precious cargo. — Alan Bradley, Space.com, 7 Oct. 2025 Though many enterprising merchants can fairly be cast as corsairs or buccaneers, a surprising number are, as people, curiously pallid. — Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 16 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for corsair

Word History

Etymology

Middle French & Old Italian; Middle French corsaire pirate, from Old Occitan corsari, from Old Italian corsaro, from Medieval Latin cursarius, from Latin cursus course — more at course

First Known Use

1549, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of corsair was in 1549

See more words from the same year

Browse Nearby Words

corsage

corsair

corse

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Corsair.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/corsair. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

corsair

noun

cor·sair ˈkȯr-ˌsa(ə)r

-ˌse(ə)r

: pirate entry 1

corsair

noun

Synonyms of corsair

Examples of corsair in a Sentence

Word History

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

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