merchant ship

noun

: merchantman sense 2

Examples of merchant ship in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The strikes were retaliation after three merchant ships were struck in the Strait of Hormuz, and underscored the fragility of an interim deal to end months of fighting between the two countries. — ABC News, 7 July 2026

During America's quasi-war with France in 1798, Talbot finally got command of his own ship, capturing several French privateers and convoying American merchant ships aboard the USS Constitution. — Catherine Messier, The Providence Journal, 3 July 2026

Large merchant ships could come close to shore, unload their cargo and reload quickly. — R. Grant Gilmore Iii, The Conversation, 30 June 2026

Several large merchant ships used the southern route on Sunday heading for ports in the Gulf, according to ship tracking service Marine Traffic. — Xiaoqian Lin, CNN Money, 29 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for merchant ship

• authorship
• battleship
• censorship
• chairmanship
• chieftainship
• comradeship
• consulship
• craftsmanship
• dealership
• draftsmanship
• fellowship
• fingertip

Kids Definition

merchant ship

noun

: merchantman