definitions

merchant marine

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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR merchant marine ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the vessels of a nation that are engaged in commerce.
the officers and crews of such vessels.

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RELATED WORDS

marine

Nearby words

merchandize, merchant, merchant bank, merchant flag, merchant guild, merchant marine, merchant navy, merchant of death, merchant of venice, the, merchant prince, merchant seaman

Origin of merchant marine

An Americanism dating back to 1850–55
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for merchant marine

  • The race of our merchant-marine captains disappeared with their ships, and they will return no more.

    Hawthorne and His Circle|Julian Hawthorne

  • Several German merchant-marine companies, notably the Kosmos, plied along the Chilian coast.

    World's War Events, Vol. I|Various

  • But New York had taken rapid strides in her merchant-marine.

    A Little Girl of Long Ago|Amanda Millie Douglas

  • So he rose to the highest rank in the merchant-marine, and was respected almost to idolatry by all on board the Vulcan.

    The Monkey That Would Not Kill|Henry Drummond