sailor

noun

sail·​or ˈsā-lər 

1

a

: one that sails

especially : mariner

b(1)

: a member of a ship's crew

(2)

: seaman sense 2b

2

: a traveler by water

3

: a stiff straw hat with a low flat crown and straight circular brim

Synonyms

• gob
• hearty
• jack
• jack-tar
• mariner
• navigator
• salt
• sea dog
• seafarer
• seaman
• shipman
• swab
• swabbie [slang]
• swabby
• tar

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

The racetrack, situated between the Golden Gate Bridge at the windward end of the course and the prison island of Alcatraz at the bottom end, gave the sailors plenty to think about, especially the strong current that flows through the Bay. —Andrew Rice, The Athletic, 22 Mar. 2025

According to Kent Online, the sailor’s three sons still believed their father was innocent after he was found guilty of Debbie’s murder in October 2019. —Gabrielle Rockson, People.com, 21 Mar. 2025

But these sailors soldier on, following orders, some handed down from on high. —Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 19 Mar. 2025

Only after Shoham's release in February did doctors diagnose him with a malady so common to sailors before the 18th century: advanced scurvy. —Matt Gutman, ABC News, 17 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

alteration of sailer

First Known Use

1577, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing sailor

• sailor collar
• sailor's-choice
• sailor suit

Rhymes for sailor

• bailer
• bailor
• baler
• jailer
• jailor
• paler
• sailer
• scalar
• scaler
• tailor
• trailer
• whaler

Kids Definition

sailor

noun

sail·​or ˈsā-lər 

: a person who sails : seaman