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

Once home to thousands of sailors and their families, the island emptied after the base closed in 1997. — Kyle Hopkins, ProPublica, 20 July 2026

India has barred any Indian crew members from participating in transits through the strait until further notice, after an Iranian attack killed a sailor. — Jason Ma, Fortune, 19 July 2026

Odysseus and his men greedily devour a lavish meal prepared for them, only to discover their host is the witch Circe (played by Samantha Morton), who transforms the gluttonous sailors into pigs for abusing her hospitality. — Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 19 July 2026

The remaining three sailors aboard the helicopter were rescued. — Josh Boak, Los Angeles Times, 19 July 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