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

That technology is only effective in the hands of sailors trained to operate and maintain it, which is where the schoolhouse comes in, according to Lawrence Averion, directed energy branch manager. —Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 14 May 2026

Researchers have found remains of the sailors, as well as artifacts from the shipwrecks. —Kerry Breen, CBS News, 14 May 2026

The sunken battleship entombs more than 900 sailors and Marines at Pearl Harbor. —Jim Mustian, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2026

The Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup also marks a significant evolution for the event, with new AC75 rules requiring at least one female sailor to be included in each race crew for the first time in the competition’s history. —Bill Springer, Forbes.com, 14 May 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