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Sailor: meaning, definitions and examples

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sailor

 

[ ˈseɪ.lər ]

Noun
Oxford 3000
Context #1 | Noun

at sea

A sailor is a person who works on a ship, especially one who is below the rank of officer.

Synonyms

mariner, navy man, seaman

Examples of usage

  • The sailor climbed up the rigging to adjust the sails.
  • The old sailor had many tales to tell about his adventures at sea.
Context #2 | Noun

navy

A sailor is a member of a navy; a person who is trained to serve on warships.

Synonyms

naval officer, sailor man, seafarer

Examples of usage

  • The sailor saluted the captain as he boarded the ship.
  • She always dreamed of becoming a sailor and traveling the world.
Context #3 | Noun

everyday life

Informally, a sailor can also refer to someone who enjoys or is skilled at sailing as a recreational activity.

Synonyms

boater, sailing enthusiast, yachtsman

Examples of usage

  • He's a sailor at heart and spends every weekend out on the water.
  • She became a skilled sailor after years of practice.

Translations

Translations of the word "sailor" in other languages:

🇵🇹 marinheiro

🇮🇳 नाविक

🇩🇪 Matrose

🇮🇩 pelaut

🇺🇦 моряк

🇵🇱 żeglarz

🇯🇵 船員 (せんいん)

🇫🇷 marin

🇪🇸 marinero

🇹🇷 denizci

🇰🇷 선원 (seonwon)

🇸🇦 بحار (bahhar)

🇨🇿 námořník

🇸🇰 námorník

🇨🇳 水手 (shuǐshǒu)

🇸🇮 mornar

🇮🇸 sjómaður

🇰🇿 теңізші

🇬🇪 მეზღვაური (mezghvauri)

🇦🇿 dənizçi

🇲🇽 marinero

Etymology

The word 'sailor' originated in the late 15th century from the Middle English word 'sailere', which was derived from the Old French 'sailleur'. It ultimately traces back to the Latin word 'sagulum', meaning 'a short cloak worn by Roman soldiers'. Over time, the term evolved to refer to individuals who work on ships, particularly those involved in sailing and naval activities.

See also: sail, sailing, sailplane.

Word Frequency Rank

Position #9,453 indicates this is an advanced-level word. While not essential for basic communication, it will enhance your ability to understand and create more nuanced content.