mariner

noun

mar·​i·​ner ˈmer-ə-nər How to pronounce mariner (audio)
ˈma-rə-
: a person who navigates or assists in navigating a ship : seaman, sailor

Did you know?

In Coleridge's Rime of the Ancient Mariner, an old seaman tells of how, by shooting a friendly albatross, he had brought storms and disaster to his ship, and how as punishment his shipmates hung the great seabird around the mariner's neck and made him wear it until it rotted. The word mariner has occasionally been used to mean simply "explorer", as in the famous Mariner spaceflights in the 1960s and '70s, the first to fly close to Mars, Venus, and Mercury.

Examples of mariner in a Sentence

the ancient Phoenicians were outstanding mariners who explored and colonized much of the eastern Mediterranean
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.
It is highly recommended that mariners without the proper experience seek safe harbor prior to the onset of gale conditions. Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 20 Mar. 2025 For any shipping hub to flourish in the early days of Great Lakes maritime trade, lighthouses were needed to warn mariners of shoals, and welcome boats to critical harbors which still dot the lakes. Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 10 Mar. 2025 Inexperienced mariners, especially those operating smaller vessels, should avoid navigating in hazardous conditions. Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 20 Mar. 2025 The immediate area near the crash site has been closed to mariners although the main traffic channel of the bay is open. Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for mariner

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin marinarius, from marinus

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of mariner was in the 14th century

Cite this Entry

“Mariner.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mariner. Accessed 8 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

mariner

noun
mar·​i·​ner ˈmar-ə-nər How to pronounce mariner (audio)
: one who navigates or assists in navigating a ship : sailor

More from Merriam-Webster on mariner

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