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Synonyms

seafaring

American  
[see-fair-ing] / ˈsiˌfɛər ɪŋ /

adjective

  1. traveling by sea.

  2. following the sea as a trade, business, or calling.

  3. of, relating to, or occurring during a voyage on the sea.


noun

  1. the business or calling of a sailor.

  2. traveling by sea.

seafaring British  
/ ˈsiːˌfɛərɪŋ /

adjective

  1. travelling by sea

  2. working as a sailor

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. the act of travelling by sea

  2. the career or work of a sailor

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of seafaring

1150–1200; early Middle English safarinde (adj.); see sea, fare, -ing 2, -ing 1

Explanation

Seafaring is the activity of traveling or working on the ocean. You'll be much happier in the Navy if you enjoy seafaring. If you work on a ship or travel often by boat, you can also describe yourself as seafaring. Some seafaring jobs include piloting a yacht, working as a lobsterman, and doing stand-up comedy on a cruise ship. As an adjective, seafaring dates from around 1200, a combination of sea and faring, from the Old English fær, "journey or expedition."

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing seafaring

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.

Seafaring staff at P&O Ferries were told by video message that 800 of them were being sacked immediately as their ships returned to port.

From BBC • Mar. 17, 2022

Moby Niceguy: Seafaring yarn about an eco-conscious mariner and his quest to rescue endangered whales.

From Washington Post • Nov. 7, 2019

Seafaring skills, a shortage of land, and a weak nobility gave the Dutch a long trading tradition that encouraged economic independence and innovation.

From Textbooks • Jan. 18, 2018

Seafaring has been part of the local identity in Sault Ste. Marie since 1797, when the first lock was built here.

From New York Times • Jan. 18, 2018

Seafaring men would buy them as preservatives from drowning, and also for good luck.

From Weather and Folk Lore of Peterborough and District by Dack, Charles