- any member of a ship's crew, esp one below the rank of officer
- a person who sails, esp with reference to the likelihood of them becoming seasick: a good sailor
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
sail•or /ˈseɪlɚ/USA pronunciation
n. [countable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- one whose job is sailing;
a mariner. - Militarya person in a navy whose rank is below the rank of an officer.
sail•or
(sā′lər),USA pronunciation n.
sail′or•like′, adj.
sail′or•ly, adj.
- a person whose occupation is sailing or navigation;
mariner. - Militarya seaman below the rank of officer.
- Militarya naval enlistee.
- Naval Termsa person adept at sailing, esp. with reference to freedom from seasickness:He was such a bad sailor that he always traveled to Europe by plane.
- Clothinga flat-brimmed straw hat with a low, flat crown.
- 1540–50; earlier sailer; see sail, -or2
sail′or•ly, adj.
- 1. seafarer. Sailor, mariner, salt, seaman, tar are terms for a person who leads a seafaring life. A sailor or seaman is one whose occupation is on board a ship at sea, esp. a member of a ship's crew below the rank of petty officer:a sailor before the mast; an able-bodied seaman.Mariner is a term now found only in certain technical expressions:master mariner(captain in merchant service); mariner's compass (ordinary compass as used on ships); formerly used much as "sailor'' or "seafaring man,'' now the word seems elevated or quaint:Rime of the Ancient Mariner.Salt and tar are informal terms for old and experienced sailors:an old salt; a jolly tar.
- 1. landlubber.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
sailor /ˈseɪlə/ n
'sailors' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
cutlass
- duffel bag
- gooneybird
- hardtack
- heave-ho
- hornpipe
- horse latitudes
- limey
- nautical
- ne plus ultra
- Polari
- reveille
- rope's end
- Saint Elmo's fire
- scrimshaw
- Scylla
- Sea Scout
- shanty
- siren
- slop
- yo-heave-ho
- bethel
- bevy
- burgoo
- chantey
- court-martial
- crew
- crimp
- deck gang
- ditty bag
- Dixie Cup
- escort
- forecastle
- grog
- Guernsey
- gun crew
- half-pike
- hanger
- heave
- huzzah
- impress
- jumper
- lifeline
- lime-juicer
- Lorelei
- Mae West
- make
- middy blouse
- monkey jacket
- mutiny