seaman

¹

[ see-muhn ]

noun

, plural sea·men.

1. a person skilled in seamanship.
2. a person whose trade or occupation is assisting in the handling, sailing, and navigating of a ship during a voyage, especially one below the rank of officer; sailor.
3. U.S. Navy and Coast Guard. an enlisted person ranking below petty officer.

Seaman

²

[ see-muhn ]

noun

1. Elizabeth Coch·rane [kok, -r, uh, n], original name of Nellie Bly.

seaman

/ ˈsiːmən /

noun

1. a rating trained in seamanship as opposed to electrical engineering, etc
2. a man who serves as a sailor
3. a person skilled in seamanship

Derived Forms

• ˈseaman-ˌlike, adjective
• ˈseamanly, adjectiveadverb

Other Words From

• super·seaman noun plural superseamen

Word History and Origins

Origin of seaman¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English seeman, Old English sǣmann. See sea, man

Synonym Study

See sailor.

Example Sentences

Standing in his apprentice seaman uniform, he looked like a child playing soldier.

From Los Angeles Times

Boylan, who had not ordered a roving night watch as people slept, was convicted in 2023 of seaman’s manslaughter and sentenced in May to four years in federal prison.

From Los Angeles Times

One seaman told the BBC that visitors were keen to go on expeditions with the boat, although he would not have done so himself.

From BBC

He could have received up to 10 years in federal prison for his conviction on what is colloquially called seaman’s manslaughter.

From Los Angeles Times

In October 2022, an indictment of one count of seaman’s manslaughter was reinstated.

From New York Times

Related Words

• mariner