waterman

noun

wa·​ter·​man ˈwȯ-tər-mən 

ˈwä-

: one who works or lives on the water: such as

a

: a man who makes his living from the water (as by fishing)

b

: a boatman who plies for hire usually on inland waters or harbors

Examples of waterman in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

That deep connection to the ocean goes back to the ancient Polynesians, who were the world’s first watermen, using their intimate knowledge of the ocean to navigate the Pacific, discovering Hawaii thousands of years ago. —Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 June 2026

The Chesapeake Bay must remain a thriving environment for watermen, fishermen, recreation, tourism, and future generations. —Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 20 May 2026

Several days later, the commercial watermen reportedly found Oliver’s lifeless body off the coast of Delaware. —Abigail Adams, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026

While much of the attention has focused on political finger-pointing and cleanup efforts near the nation's capital, watermen and oyster buyers say their industry may suffer the longest-lasting damage, with demand lagging even as testing shows improving conditions. —Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 11 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

12th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for waterman

• watermen