privateer

[ prahy-vuh-teer ]

noun

1. an armed ship that is privately owned and manned, commissioned by a government to fight or harass enemy ships.
2. privateersman.

verb (used without object)

1. to cruise as a privateer.

privateer

/ ˌpraɪvəˈtɪə /

noun

1. an armed, privately owned vessel commissioned for war service by a government
2. Also calledprivateersman a commander or member of the crew of a privateer

verb

1. a competitor, esp in motor racing, who is privately financed rather than sponsored by a manufacturer
2. intr to serve as a privateer

Word History and Origins

Origin of privateer¹

1640–50; private + -eer, modeled on volunteer

Example Sentences

She either became a privateer herself, taking to the Mediterranean Sea to attack Spanish holdings such as Gibraltar, or she licensed privateers to attack Spain in her name.

From Los Angeles Times

The goal, Privateer says, is to make the hundreds of Earth-observing satellites currently circulating the planet much more accessible to the masses — not just governments.

From Seattle Times

Other satellite marketplaces, like SkyFi, have existed to pair customers with satellite data, but Privateer hopes to offer extra incentives for operators, such as software and hardware, to sweeten potential partnerships.

From Seattle Times

Privateer is likening the marketplace to the once-popular Uber Pool ride-share, which allowed multiple customers heading in roughly the same direction to share a car.

From Seattle Times

With the help of Privateer, the operator of that satellite can then maneuver onto an orbital trajectory to optimize data collection for those customers.

From Seattle Times