merchant ship

noun

: merchantman sense 2

Examples of merchant ship in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The lock’s combination was lost on December 28, 1583, when the merchant ship Ann Francis sailed into a powerful storm during a return voyage from Spain. — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 4 Nov. 2026

Russian drones have struck at least a dozen merchant ships in the Black Sea in recent weeks – killing more mariners than have died during the Iran war. — Tim Lister, CNN Money, 3 Nov. 2026

Several merchant ships carrying grain and other civilian cargo were struck by drones – widely viewed as Russian – off the shores of two NATO members, Bulgaria and Romania. — The Monitor's Editorial Board, Christian Science Monitor, 16 Oct. 2026

Unless cargo ship designs are modified to deter or push aside these emergent threats, and new merchant ships get built to fight through damage, cargo traffic near maritime chokepoints will have an increasingly tough time. — Craig Hooper, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 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