seaman

noun

ˈsē-mən How to pronounce seaman (audio)
Definition of seamannext
as in sailor
one who operates or navigates a seagoing vessel a weathered old seaman who now captains a tour boat

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of seaman Made famous by Jewish-style delis in Richmond, Virginia, to satisfy the appetites of local Navy seamen, the Sailor sandwich is a meat-centric indulgence. — Erin Merhar, Southern Living, 15 July 2026 These outposts were intended to be manned by British seamen armed with antiaircraft weaponry. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 June 2026 The South cried hypocrisy on slavery, given that the seamen of Providence, Rhode Island, played a central role in the Atlantic slave trade. — James Traub, The Atlantic, 28 June 2026 Their drama is already stale, and between Nathan’s touchiness and Joe’s mistreatment of women, their fight over who is a better guy, a better seaman, a better worker, a better boyfriend is disengaging at best and aggravating at worst. — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 23 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for seaman
Recent Examples of Synonyms for seaman
  1. sailor
  2. mariner
  3. navigator
Noun
  • Bulgarians voted against a backdrop of growing economic hardship and drone attacks on Black Sea shipping, which have left several sailors dead or missing.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Out in the harbor, the skeletons of derelict ships abandoned by sailors who had gone searching for gold formed the first and strangest San Francisco skyline.
    — Kathryn Schulz, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of sailor
Noun
  • And the fact that he was made an officer in the Provincial Marine by the British is a sign of his quality as a mariner and a leader.
    — J. B. MacKinnon, Harpers Magazine, 27 Oct. 2026
  • According to family history, DaCosta Levy’s family lineage traced to Portugal, where his ancestors had been mariners — almost certainly Sephardic Jews who scattered across the Atlantic world after the Inquisition.
    — Zachary Kranc, Sun Sentinel, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of mariner
Noun
  • But his big break would come with Star Trek in 1967 — the start of a 25-year journey as navigator of the starship USS Enterprise.
    — Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Smitley works as a family navigator for a nonprofit organization that supports people with mental illness.
    — Stephanie Dhue,Sharon Epperson, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of navigator

Browse Nearby Words

sea-maids
seaman
seamed
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Cite this Entry

“Seaman.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/seaman. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on seaman

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about seaman

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