privateer

noun
UK: /ˌpraɪvəˈtɪər/
US: /ˌpraɪvəˈtɪr/

  1. A privately owned ship authorized by a government to attack enemy ships during wartime.

    1. The privateer sailed to find enemy ships.
    2. The government commissioned the privateer to disrupt enemy trade routes during the war.

  2. A sailor or captain who serves on such a ship.

    1. The privateer was brave and skilled at sea.
    2. As a skilled navigator, the privateer quickly rose through the ranks on the ship.

Synonyms

buccaneer pirate freebooter corsair
privateer verb

  1. To act as a privateer; to engage in privateering.

    1. They decided to privateer during the conflict.
    2. The ship owners chose to privateer, hoping for quick riches during the naval conflict.

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "privateer" in English means: A privately owned ship authorized by a government to attack enemy ships during wartime., A sailor or captain who serves on such a ship..

The phonetic transcription of "privateer" is /ˌpraɪvəˈtɪər/ in British English and /ˌpraɪvəˈtɪr/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "privateer": buccaneer, pirate, freebooter, corsair.

Example usage of "privateer": "The privateer sailed to find enemy ships.". More examples on the page.