mariner

American  

[mar-uh-ner] / ˈmær ə nər /

noun

1. a person who directs or assists in the navigation of a ship; sailor.

   Synonyms:

   seafarer

2. (initial capital letter) one of a series of U.S. space probes that obtained scientific information while flying by or orbiting around the planets Mars, Mercury, and Venus.

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Mariner ¹ British  

/ ˈmærɪnə /

noun

1. any of a series of US space probes launched between 1962 and 1971 that sent back photographs and information concerning the surface of Mars and Venus and also studied interplanetary matter

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mariner ² British  

/ ˈmærɪnə /

noun

1. a formal or literary word for seaman

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Usage

What does mariner mean? A mariner is a sailor, especially a professional one.The word sailor is used much more commonly than mariner, which often sounds formal or old-fashioned. Mariner is sometimes used as a more poetic word for sailor, much like its synonym seafarer.In literature, the word is associated with its use in the title of Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s 1798 epic poem The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, which is considered highly influential and a landmark of Romantic literature. It is in fact about a sailor.Mariner was also the name of a NASA program involving a series of probes (which were also each named Mariner along with a number) launched to gather information while orbiting Mars, Venus, and Mercury.The word also appears in the name of the Seattle Mariners baseball team—a reference to Seattle’s heritage as a port city.Example: The seaside pub was frequented by salty old mariners.

Related Words

See sailor.

Etymology

Origin of mariner

First recorded in 1250–1300 mariner for def. 1; mariner for def. 2 1960–65; Middle English, from Anglo-French; Old French marinier. See marine, -er ²

Example Sentences

Martino, the merchant mariner, said the influx of newcomers has benefited the city in many ways, with food only one example.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 20, 2026

Sawai plays Toda Mariko, a noblewoman who is a translator between Toranaga and an English mariner in "Shōgun."

From Salon • Jan. 6, 2025

The discovery of this boat now changes our entire understanding of ancient mariner abilities.

From BBC • Jun. 20, 2024

“The discovery of this boat now changes our entire understanding of ancient mariner navigational skills,” Dr. Sharvit said.

From New York Times • Jun. 20, 2024

"Is it Marin like mariner, or Marin like the county."

From "We Are Okay" by Nina LaCour