sailor

noun

sail·​or ˈsā-lər 

1

a

: one that sails

especially : mariner

b(1)

: a member of a ship's crew

(2)

: seaman sense 2b

2

: a traveler by water

3

: a stiff straw hat with a low flat crown and straight circular brim

Synonyms of sailor

• mariner
• navigator
• seaman

Examples of sailor in a Sentence

He worked as a sailor on a cargo ship.

the sailors were glad to be arriving in port after their long voyage

Recent Examples on the Web

Thousands of sailors remain stranded in the region, unable to return home or keep the world’s supply of oil flowing. — Mithil Aggarwal, NBC news, 9 Aug. 2026

The 45-year-old veteran sailor's journey takes him across the North Atlantic, along the Russian Arctic coast and eventually through the Northwest Passage in Canada. — Henry Larson, NPR, 9 Aug. 2026

Nearby, the Maritime Museum, housed in the 18th-century Grgurina Palace, tells the story of the captains and sailors who carried Kotor’s influence far beyond the bay, but save it for another visit if the afternoon is slipping away. — Jonathan Wiggin, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Aug. 2026

What comes next ultimately vindicates Circe’s condemnation of the sailors. — Bailey Sincox, The Conversation, 6 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

alteration of sailer

First Known Use

1577, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing sailor

• sailor collar
• sailor's-choice
• sailor suit

Rhymes for sailor

• bailer
• bailor
• baler
• jailer
• jailor
• paler
• sailer
• scalar
• scaler
• tailor
• trailer
• whaler

Kids Definition

sailor

noun

sail·​or ˈsā-lər 

: a person who sails : seaman