sailor

noun

sail·​or ˈsā-lər How to pronounce sailor (audio)
Synonyms of sailornext
1
a
: one that sails
especially : mariner
b(1)
: a member of a ship's crew
(2)
: seaman sense 2b
2
: a traveler by water
3
: a stiff straw hat with a low flat crown and straight circular brim

Synonyms of sailor

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Examples of sailor in a Sentence

He worked as a sailor on a cargo ship. the sailors were glad to be arriving in port after their long voyage
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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.
When rescuers finally arrived, only 316 of those sailors were pulled from the water alive. — Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026 In another favorite photo, a young Black sailor blows smoke into the air. — Hanif Abdurraqib, New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2026 Nearly two dozen sailors from many countries were either killed or are missing. — The Monitor's Editorial Board, Christian Science Monitor, 16 Oct. 2026 Remember the old Popeye and spinach routine, where the squinty-eyed sailor scarfs down a can of leafy greens and his muscles practically burst out of his shirt? — Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 15 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sailor

Word History

Etymology

alteration of sailer

First Known Use

1577, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of sailor was in 1577

Phrases Containing sailor

Rhymes for sailor

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Browse Nearby Words

sail needle
sailor
sailor's-choice
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Cite this Entry

“Sailor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sailor. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

sailor

noun
sail·​or ˈsā-lər How to pronounce sailor (audio)
: a person who sails : seaman
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