yacht

[yot]

noun

1. a vessel used for private cruising, racing, or other noncommercial purposes.

verb (used without object)

1. to sail, voyage, or race in a yacht.

yacht

/ jɒt /

noun

1. a vessel propelled by sail or power, used esp for pleasure cruising, racing, etc

2. short for sand yacht ice yacht

verb

1. (intr) to sail or cruise in a yacht

Other Word Forms

• yachty adjective
• superyacht noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of yacht¹

1550–60; < early Dutch jaght, short for jaghtschip hunting ship, equivalent to Dutch jacht hunt (derivative of jagen to hunt) + schip ship ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of yacht¹

C16: from obsolete Dutch jaghte, short for jahtschip, from jagen to chase + schip _ship

Example Sentences

Rising stocks also support the economy through the wealth effect—the tendency of households to spend a portion of each added dollar in wealth on anything from yachts to movie tickets.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

It isn’t hard to think that Jeff Bezos left his role as Amazon.com’s CEO to enjoy a slower life filled with yachting and celebrity parties.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

They listen to playlists while pulling carts loaded with cinder blocks: yacht rock for mornings, Jock Jam in the afternoon.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

He was celebrating being acquitted on his yacht when it sank.

Read more on BBC

He is currently pitching ideas like a “head tax” on employees of big companies, a yacht tax and an Uber tax to make ends meet.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• racer 
• sailboat 
• sloop