Sailor: meaning, definitions and examples

General term for someone who works on a boat or ship. Can be used informally or broadly.

• My brother is a sailor and spends months at sea
• The sailor waved as the ship left the port

Refers to a sailor, often in a more technical or professional context, sometimes indicating lower rank or less experience. Used within commercial shipping and military contexts.

• The seaman was assigned to maintenance duties on the deck
• As a young seaman, he learned the ropes quickly

A more formal term, often used in historical or literary contexts, or to refer specifically to someone experienced in navigating ships.

• The mariner set sail on a perilous journey across the Atlantic
• Mariner's tales often include encounters with mythical sea creatures

Specifically refers to someone who serves in the navy, the branch of the military that operates at sea.

• Her father is a navy man, stationed on an aircraft carrier
• The navy man recounted stories from his time in the Gulf War

General term for someone who works on a boat or ship.

• The sailor tied the boat to the dock.
• Sailors often have to work long hours at sea.

A person with a higher rank and leadership role in a navy.

• The naval officer gave orders to the crew.
• She became a naval officer after many years of training.

Informal and somewhat dated term, commonly used in older literature or songs.

• The sailor man was brave and strong, navigating through the storm.
• In the old sea shanties, they often mentioned a sailor man.

Someone who travels by sea, often used in a more poetic or formal context.

• The seafarer spent months away from home on his voyages.
• Seafarers have been exploring the oceans for centuries.

This term is used to describe someone who works on a ship or has significant experience and skills in operating a boat or ship, usually in a professional or military context.

• The sailor adjusted the sails to catch more wind.
• After years in the navy, he became an experienced sailor.

This phrase refers to someone who is very passionate about sailing as a hobby, and they may take part in sailing activities frequently but not necessarily in a professional capacity.

• As a sailing enthusiast, he spends most of his vacation on sailboats.
• The club organized an event to gather all the local sailing enthusiasts.

Yachtsman describes someone who owns or operates a yacht, either as a hobby or professionally; it often implies a certain level of affluence.

• The yachtsman spent the summer cruising around the Mediterranean.
• At the regatta, the experienced yachtsman showed impressive skills.

Boater is typically used for a person who often engages in boating as a recreational activity and is not necessarily a professional.

• Every weekend, the boater takes his family out on the lake.
• She's an enthusiastic boater who loves spending time on her yacht.