sailor

American  

[sey-ler] / ˈseɪ lər /

noun

sailors plural

1. a person whose occupation is sailing or navigation; mariner.

   Synonyms:

   seafarer

   Antonyms:

   landlubber

2. a seaman below the rank of officer.

3. a naval enlistee.

4. a person adept at sailing, especially with reference to freedom from seasickness.

   He was such a bad sailor that he always traveled to Europe by plane.

5. a flat-brimmed straw hat with a low, flat crown.

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sailor British  

/ ˈseɪlə /

noun

1. any member of a ship's crew, esp one below the rank of officer

2. a person who sails, esp with reference to the likelihood of his becoming seasick

   a good sailor

3. short for sailor hat sailor suit

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Synonym Usage

Sailor, mariner, salt, seaman, tar are terms for a person who leads a seafaring life. A sailor or seaman is one whose occupation is on board a ship at sea, especially a member of a ship's crew below the rank of petty officer: a sailor before the mast; an able-bodied seaman. Mariner is a term now found only in certain technical expressions: master mariner (captain in merchant service); mariner's compass (ordinary compass as used on ships); formerly used much as “sailor” or “seafaring man,” now the word seems elevated or quaint: Rime of the Ancient Mariner. Salt and tar are informal terms for old and experienced sailors: an old salt; a jolly tar.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonsailor
  noun
• sailorlike
  adjective
• sailorly
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• sailors
  plural

Etymology

Origin of sailor

First recorded in 1540–50; earlier sailer; see sail, -or ²

Explanation

A sailor is someone who works on a boat or ship — either for fun, a job, or while serving in the navy. If you want to be a sailor, it's good to start by learning to swim. If you work on a cargo ship or help to pilot a schooner in the summer, you can call yourself a sailor. You're also a sailor if you learn how to sail a small boat around a lake. Even though the boats that sailors work on don't necessarily have sails, that's where the word comes from — the verb sail. Before sailor was coined in the 15th century, people used mariner and seaman.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sailor sailors

Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, blamed Zelensky on Sunday for a strike that he said killed a sailor on an Iranian commercial vessel.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026

John F. Kennedy was a sailor and "the second most good-looking president," Trump said, leaving unsaid who is the first.

From Barron's ● Jul. 3, 2026

Nature lover Maxine Allinson was walking on Tenby South beach on Tuesday when she spotted a by-the-wind sailor for the first time.

From BBC ● Jun. 18, 2026

It was a boat ride for the history books, with nary a sailor in sight.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 11, 2026

The sailor was as I’d left him, completely unaware, and Mouse by his side, her eyes fixed on Mr. Kendall.

From "Beyond the Bright Sea" by Lauren Wolk

The United Nations on Friday called for the safe evacuation and repatriation of some 6,000 sailors stuck in a "dire humanitarian and human rights crisis" in the Strait of Hormuz.

From Barron's ● Jul. 24, 2026

On Tuesday, the United States and its allies condemned China's "dangerous" behaviour after a clash between Chinese and Philippine sailors in the disputed South China Sea, a crucial route for global trade.

From Barron's ● Jul. 22, 2026

“On behalf of the Marines and sailors of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, I extend our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Lance Cpl. Ortiz Canseco,” Col.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 1, 2026

No casualties were reported when the ship was struck by a one-way attack drone on Thursday, an incident which prompted a planned evacuation of more than 11,000 sailors stuck in the region.

From BBC ● Jun. 26, 2026

“Do you hear that?” asked Thomas McLeod, one of the sailors.

From "Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World" by Jennifer Armstrong

Related Words

• boater
• cadet
• diver
• marine
• pilot