Flying Dutchman

noun

1
: a legendary Dutch mariner condemned to sail the seas until Judgment Day
2
: a spectral ship that according to legend haunts the seas near the Cape of Good Hope

Examples of Flying Dutchman 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.
Fans can choose from a wide variety of styles, ranging from the Flying Dutchman to Protein Style. — Diana Leyva, Nashville Tennessean, 10 Dec. 2025 In which SpongeBob and Gary the Snail have a conversation about string cheese, and the Flying Dutchman goes crazy at the sheer inanity of it. — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 21 Dec. 2025 Poet John Greenleaf Whittier wrote his own homage to the Flying Dutchman as reinterpreted for the Dash. — Leanna Renee Hieber, Big Think, 2 Oct. 2025 Doyle-Murray had a recurring role in the first two seasons of the AMC cult hit Lodge 49 and voiced the Flying Dutchman in multiple SpongeBob projects across TV and video games. — Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 28 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for Flying Dutchman

Word History

First Known Use

1813, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Flying Dutchman was in 1813

Browse Nearby Words

flying dragon
Flying Dutchman
flying facade
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Flying Dutchman.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Flying%20Dutchman. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on Flying Dutchman

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about Flying Dutchman

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