cruiser

American  

[kroo-zer] / ˈkru zər /

noun

1. a person or thing that cruises.

2. one of a class of warships of medium tonnage, designed for high speed and long cruising radius.

3. squad car.

4. a vessel, especially a power-driven one, intended for cruising.

5. cabin cruiser.

6. Also called timber cruiser.  a person who estimates the value of the timber in a tract of forest.

7. Slang. a prostitute who walks the street soliciting customers.

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cruiser British  

/ ˈkruːzə /

noun

1. a high-speed, long-range warship of medium displacement, armed with medium calibre weapons or missiles

2. Also called: cabin cruiser.  a pleasure boat, esp one that is power-driven and has a cabin

3. any person or thing that cruises

4. boxing cruiserweight See light heavyweight

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Etymology

Origin of cruiser

1670–80; < Dutch kruiser, equivalent to kruis ( en ) to cruise + -er -er ¹

Example Sentences

Melissa Newman, a business professor who’s an avid cruiser, is starting to see some cracks in the industry she loves: Some cruise-goers, including repeat travelers, are saying cruising doesn’t feel special anymore.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 11, 2026

The warship's welcoming ceremony outside the naval base of Salamis included a copy of an ancient Athenian trireme and the Georgios Averof, a historic cruiser that fought in the Balkan Wars.

From Barron's • Jan. 15, 2026

A New York Police Department cruiser sat opposite the main entrance.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 6, 2026

The retired admiral told me that the Navy’s most successful project in recent decades is the Aegis-class cruiser.

From Slate • Dec. 23, 2025

I let the animal control lady lead me to her cruiser and drive me to the hospital.

From "Wayward Creatures" by Dayna Lorentz

Related Words

• battleship
• corvette
• cutter
• destroyer
• frigate
• gunboat
• submarine