square-rigger

noun

square-rig·​ger ˈskwer-ˌri-gər How to pronounce square-rigger (audio)
Synonyms of square-riggernext
: a square-rigged craft

Illustration of square-rigger

Illustration of square-rigger

Examples of square-rigger 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.
The Pacific had struck the Orpheus, a 1,100-ton square-rigger that was traveling north along the Washington coast to load a shipment of coal at Nanaimo in British Columbia. — Joel Sams, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 Jan. 2025 Leading up to Sunday, July 4, 1976, more than 100 large sailing ships, including 16 square-riggers, came into the harbor en masse — and on the day itself, they were joined by perhaps 5,000 small craft, from tiny catamarans to good-size yachts. — Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 30 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1855, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of square-rigger was in 1855

Rhymes for square-rigger

See All Rhymes for square-rigger

Browse Nearby Words

square-rigged
square-rigger
square rod
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

square-rigger

noun
square-rig·​ger
-ˈrig-ər
: a square-rigged ship

More from Merriam-Webster on square-rigger

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for square-rigger

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of gambol

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All