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
: a traveler by water
3
: a stiff straw hat with a low flat crown and straight circular brim

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
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.
Three sailors were injured in the incident and have since returned to duty. Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 30 Apr. 2026 The narrative of the Odyssey, therefore, shifts between fiction and fact, blending Homeric invention with religious beliefs, historical events, seafaring stories told by sailors, and accounts of distant lands by traders and travelers. Gitanjali Roy, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Apr. 2026 Strait of Hormuz puts stress on supply chains Former Navy officials said that supply chain issues, potentially worsened by Iran's control over the Strait of Hormuz, could be forcing sailors to go for longer than normal without seeing fresh fruits and veggies. Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026 However, a fire in one of its laundry spaces forced the carrier to turn around and return to the Mediterranean Sea for repairs, leaving hundreds of sailors without places to sleep. ABC News, 29 Apr. 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sailor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sailor. Accessed 5 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

sailor

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

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