Freebooter: meaning, definitions and examples

Typically used in a historical or literary context to describe a person who engages in piracy but also suggests a broader scope of adventurous, often lawless activity. It can imply a romantic or swashbuckling image.

• The freebooter sailed the seas, searching for treasure and adventure.
• Legends speak of a daring freebooter who robbed from the rich and gave to the poor.

Used widely to describe any person involved in sea robbery. It can apply to historical, fictional, and present-day contexts, often with a general negative connotation.

• The pirates attacked the merchant ship and took its valuable cargo.
• Jack Sparrow is one of the most famous cinematic pirates.

Often used in historical, fictional, or adventure contexts, focused on the Caribbean Sea during the 17th century. It can imply a romanticized, often swashbuckling image, associated with pirates of that era.

• The buccaneers of the Caribbean were infamous for their daring raids on Spanish ships.
• She loved reading stories about the buccaneers and their treasure hunts.

Often found in historical contexts, this term refers to a private person or ship authorized by a government to attack foreign vessels during wartime. It carries a more legitimate implication compared to 'pirate'.

• During the war, the government issued letters of marque to privateers to disrupt enemy trade.
• Sir Francis Drake started his career as a privateer, sanctioned by the Queen herself.

This term is typically used to describe a pirate or someone engaged in unauthorized warfare, often at sea. It often carries a negative connotation.

• The freebooter sailed the high seas, raiding unsuspecting ships

This word is used for a professional soldier hired to serve in a foreign army. It often implies a lack of allegiance and is considered negative.

• The government hired mercenaries to bolster their military forces during the conflict

This term refers to a person who works as a soldier for any country or group that pays them. It may sometimes romanticize the profession despite its negative aspects.

• He lived life as a soldier of fortune, wandering from battlefield to battlefield for money

Use this word to describe someone who works purely for financial gain without regard for ethics or loyalty. It has a somewhat negative connotation.

• He was just a hireling, with no loyalty to the company that employed him