seafarer

noun

sea·​far·​er ˈsē-ˌfer-ər How to pronounce seafarer (audio)

Examples of seafarer in a Sentence

ships and the intrepid seafarers who man them remain a vital part of the world economy
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The reenactment helped illustrate just how skilled and coordinated the original seafarers would have needed to be to pull off such a voyage. Nora Bradford, Scientific American, 25 June 2025 Those cargo ships are staffed by seafarers who work at the very cusp of change and conflict. Forbes.com, 23 June 2025 For centuries before Ferdinand Magellan first set foot here in 1521, the inhabitants were natural seafarers, docking on its islands and thriving aboard floating communities on boats called balangay, a word that today has come to mean the country’s smallest political unit, or village. Charlie Campbell, Time, 5 June 2025 And today, a thriving student population keeps the city feeling youthful and fun with plenty of bars and pubs; many have been serving pints to seafarers since the 1500s. Lottie Gross, AFAR Media, 3 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for seafarer

Word History

Etymology

sea + fare entry 1 + -er entry 2

First Known Use

1513, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of seafarer was in 1513

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Cite this Entry

“Seafarer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/seafarer. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

seafarer

noun
sea·​far·​er ˈsē-ˌfar-ər How to pronounce seafarer (audio)
-ˌfer-
: a person who travels over the ocean : mariner

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