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merchant seaman

American  

noun

  1. a seaman who works on a merchant vessel.


Etymology

Origin of merchant seaman

First recorded in 1895–1900

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.

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 • Mar. 26, 2025

Marine Corps veteran and merchant seaman decides there is no better way than to head into the war zone to deliver them American beer.

From Reuters • Sep. 14, 2022

Navy, The Sullivans bombarded airfields on Iwo Jima, defended against Japanese air attacks, searched for submarines, rescued American sailors and Japanese merchant seaman, and supported the invasion of Okinawa.

From New York Times • Apr. 15, 2022

His mother Olive was already married to a merchant seaman who was away at war when Eldridge was born in November 1944.

From BBC • Jan. 29, 2022

He signed on as a merchant seaman, and in 1953, when he was nineteen, his ship docked at Norfolk, Virginia.

From "Class Matters" by The New York Times

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