seaman

¹

[see-muhn]

noun

plural

seamen 

1. a person skilled in seamanship.

2. a person whose trade or occupation is assisting in the handling, sailing, and navigating of a ship during a voyage, especially one below the rank of officer; sailor.

3. U.S. Navy and Coast Guard.,  an enlisted person ranking below petty officer.

Seaman

²

[see-muhn]

noun

1. Elizabeth Cochrane original name of Nellie Bly.

seaman

/ ˈsiːmən /

noun

1. a rating trained in seamanship as opposed to electrical engineering, etc

2. a man who serves as a sailor

3. a person skilled in seamanship

Other Word Forms

• superseaman noun
• seaman-like adjective
• seamanly adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of seaman¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English seeman, Old English sǣmann. See sea, man

Synonym Study

See sailor.

Example Sentences

Dougie Shelley joined the Royal Navy at the age of 17, serving as a seaman gunner, and said earlier this year: "There is not many of us left."

From BBC

His performance as the naïve young seaman, hanged for killing an officer in self-defence, won him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor and a Golden Globe for Best Newcomer.

From BBC

He eventually enlisted in the Marine Corps and was a merchant seaman before pursuing a career in journalism, according to Tucker Carlson’s post.

From Los Angeles Times

Standing in his apprentice seaman uniform, he looked like a child playing soldier.

From Los Angeles Times

Boylan, who had not ordered a roving night watch as people slept, was convicted in 2023 of seaman’s manslaughter and sentenced in May to four years in federal prison.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• mariner