boater

noun

boat·​er ˈbō-tər How to pronounce boater (audio)
1
: one who travels in a boat
2
: a stiff hat usually made of braided straw with a brim, hatband, and flat crown

Examples of boater in a Sentence

a favorite spot for pleasure boaters
Recent Examples on the Web For a memorable experience, have a bite to eat in historic downtown Annapolis's Ego Alley, a narrow waterway where yachts and boaters cruise by. Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 10 Nov. 2023 Two white boaters have pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault or harassment. Melissa Noel, Essence, 10 Nov. 2023 As local police, federal agents, dogs, divers, boaters and pilots fanned out in search of him, Robert R. Card Jr., identified by authorities as the suspect in the Lewiston mass shooting, remains an unknown. Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2023 Kayak anglers and small boaters prefer elevated rod holders to keep the reels away from spray and errant waves. Ric Burnley, Field & Stream, 25 Oct. 2023 Prior to the weekend, the U.S. Coast Guard issued warnings advising beachgoers and boaters about high surf and strong rip currents along the Mid-Atlantic as a result of Tropical Storm Idalia. Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY, 5 Sep. 2023 The former reality stars — who both appeared on season 20 of The Bachelorette while vying for Charity Lawson’s heart — and three other men were eventually rescued by fellow boaters Chris Keeran and his cousin T.J., according to the outlet. Stephanie Wenger, Peoplemag, 20 Sep. 2023 These rough seas can prove dangerous for any boaters along the Atlantic coast and will keep the risk of hazardous rip currents elevated. Mary Gilbert, CNN, 1 Sep. 2023 When boaters were spotted in trouble, the keeper leaped into the station launch, desperately hoping to save their lives and spare his own. Dorothy Wickenden, The New Yorker, 30 Oct. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'boater.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of boater was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near boater

Cite this Entry

“Boater.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/boater. Accessed 8 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

boater

noun
boat·​er ˈbōt-ər How to pronounce boater (audio)
1
: a person who travels in a boat
2
: a stiff straw hat

More from Merriam-Webster on boater

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!