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Synonyms

boater

American  
[boh-ter] / ˈboʊ tər /

noun

  1. a person who boats, especially for pleasure.

  2. a stiff straw hat with a shallow, flat-topped crown, ribbon band, and straight brim.

boater British  
/ ˈbəʊtə /

noun

  1. a stiff straw hat with a straight brim and flat crown

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of boater

First recorded in 1595–1605; boat + -er 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Cefalu — a lifelong Tahoe boater and co-owner of Mile High Fishing Charters — noticed some whitecaps forming.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 24, 2025

In an early episode, the brothers came out singing the Maurice Chevalier hit “Louise” while sporting boater hats.

From New York Times • Dec. 28, 2023

He collapsed when he reached land, and was discovered by a boater the following morning.

From Washington Times • Oct. 25, 2023

A boater traveling near Westport spotted a man standing on a navigational buoy around 4 p.m.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 23, 2023

In the summer, he wore a straw boater.

From "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.