bulk carrier

American

noun

a single-decked ship designed to carry dry cargoes, as grain or coal, in bulk form.

bulk carrier British

noun

Also called: bulker. a ship that carries unpackaged cargo, usually consisting of a single dry commodity, such as coal or grain

"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 bulk carrier

First recorded in 1955–60

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.

Since the imposition of the blockade, at least one ship, a bulk carrier, left an Iranian port and exited the region, according to publicly available shipping data.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026

A Thai bulk carrier travelling in the crucial Strait of Hormuz was attacked Wednesday, with 20 crew members rescued so far, the Thai navy said.

From Barron's • Mar. 11, 2026

The private security firm Ambrey reported that the vessel targeted appeared to be a Marshall Islands-flagged, Greek-owned bulk carrier in the area at the time.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 27, 2024

The Rubymar, a bulk carrier sailing with a Belize flag, is owned by Golden Adventure Shipping, a company registered in the Marshall Islands, Mr. Khoury said.

From New York Times • Feb. 23, 2024

One of the most recent was on 17 January, involving the Genco Picardy, a US-owned bulk carrier.

From BBC • Jan. 19, 2024

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