seaman

noun

sea·​man ˈsē-mən 

1

: sailor, mariner

2

a

: any of the three ranks below petty officer in the navy or coast guard

b

: an enlisted member of the navy or coast guard ranking above a seaman apprentice and below a petty officer

Synonyms of seaman

• sailor
• mariner
• navigator

Examples of seaman in a Sentence

a weathered old seaman who now captains a tour boat

Recent Examples on the Web

Made famous by Jewish-style delis in Richmond, Virginia, to satisfy the appetites of local Navy seamen, the Sailor sandwich is a meat-centric indulgence. — Erin Merhar, Southern Living, 15 July 2026

These outposts were intended to be manned by British seamen armed with antiaircraft weaponry. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 June 2026

The South cried hypocrisy on slavery, given that the seamen of Providence, Rhode Island, played a central role in the Atlantic slave trade. — James Traub, The Atlantic, 28 June 2026

Their drama is already stale, and between Nathan’s touchiness and Joe’s mistreatment of women, their fight over who is a better guy, a better seaman, a better worker, a better boyfriend is disengaging at best and aggravating at worst. — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 23 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing seaman

• able-bodied seaman
• able seaman
• merchant seaman
• ordinary seaman
• seaman apprentice
• seaman recruit

Rhymes for seaman

• beeman
• daemon
• demon
• leman
• niemann
• seamen
• semen

Kids Definition

seaman

noun

sea·​man ˈsē-mən 

1

: sailor, mariner

2

: a naval enlisted person with a rank below those of petty officers

especially : an enlisted person with a rank just below that of petty officer third class