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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.
The town is named for the Greek mythological creature Scylla, a sea monster with multiple heads that was fabled to terrorize sailors (most notably, the hero Odysseus) who dared to travel the water between Italy and Sicily. Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 13 Jan. 2026 The name Siren's Curse comes from the mythical sirens who reside in Lake Erie and lure sailors with their singing. Chad Murphy, Cincinnati Enquirer, 12 Jan. 2026 After Doherty picked up the award for Best Performance By a Female Actor in a Supporting Role On Television for her role on Adolescence, some of her sailor language sneaked onto the broadcast. Peter White, Deadline, 11 Jan. 2026 Twenty-one sailors were chained, stripped and sold into slavery. Maurizio Valsania, The Conversation, 9 Jan. 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 19 Jan. 2026.

Kids Definition

sailor

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

More from Merriam-Webster on sailor

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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