privateer

noun

pri·​va·​teer ˌprī-və-ˈtir 

: an armed private ship licensed to attack enemy shipping

also : a sailor on such a ship

privateer intransitive verb

Examples of privateer in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The muse, known as Lucybelle II, was a rare privateer entry that demonstrated the determination of non-factory teams. —Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 18 Sep. 2025

The structure is similar to how pirates and privateers once attacked foreign enemies at sea on behalf of their government. —Rick Bennett, Time, 17 Sep. 2025

Jeremy Borrelli, a staff archaeologist for ECU's maritime studies program, told Fox News Digital the team recovered 63 wooden shipwreck timbers – 47 of which are believed to be part of La Fortuna, a Spanish privateer ship from Cuba. —Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 1 Sep. 2025

But it was captured by a British privateer and departed for Jamaica, crammed with 442 enslaved people. —Lizz Schumer, People.com, 24 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1641, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for privateer

• auctioneer
• bandelier
• belvedere
• bombardier
• brigadier
• buccaneer
• cavalier
• chandelier
• chanticleer
• chevalier
• commandeer
• disappear

Kids Definition

privateer

1 of 2 noun

pri·​va·​teer

ˌprī-və-ˈti(ə)r

1

: an armed private ship permitted by its government to make war on ships of an enemy country

2

: a sailor on a privateer

privateer

2 of 2 verb

: to cruise in or as a privateer