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

So each Wednesday, Phillips went out on her yellow Huffy cruiser and routinely logged 50 or more illegally dumped items and reported them to the city’s 311 system for pickup.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 27, 2026

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

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

The policeman called for someone to get Tilly, and both of us, Tilly and I, got in the backseat of the cruiser to warm up.

From "Red Kayak" by Priscilla Cummings

Related Words

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