mariner

noun

mar·​i·​ner ˈmer-ə-nər How to pronounce mariner (audio)
ˈma-rə-
: a person who navigates or assists in navigating a ship : seaman, sailor

Did you know?

In Coleridge's Rime of the Ancient Mariner, an old seaman tells of how, by shooting a friendly albatross, he had brought storms and disaster to his ship, and how as punishment his shipmates hung the great seabird around the mariner's neck and made him wear it until it rotted. The word mariner has occasionally been used to mean simply "explorer", as in the famous Mariner spaceflights in the 1960s and '70s, the first to fly close to Mars, Venus, and Mercury.

Examples of mariner in a Sentence

the ancient Phoenicians were outstanding mariners who explored and colonized much of the eastern Mediterranean
Recent Examples on the Web The Reformation x Clare Waight Keller collection includes mariner chain necklaces and belts, sculptural cuffs and hoops, chain pendant necklaces in dainty and chunky silhouettes, and statement floral earrings finished with pearls and cubic zirconia stones. Danielle Directo-Meston, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Oct. 2024 During the coronavirus pandemic, for example, when travel restrictions blocked mariners from returning home after months at sea, Unni emerged as their outspoken champion. USA TODAY, 25 Sep. 2024 Between the 1600s to the mid 1900s, hundreds of ships wrecked on the shoals—known as the Graveyard of the Atlantic—and the lighthouse was built in 1964 by the U.S. government to help keep mariners safe. Graham Averill, Outside Online, 11 Sep. 2024 In one example, a Coast Guard notice to mariners Wednesday indicated a launch as soon as Oct. 12. Brandon Lingle, San Antonio Express-News, 3 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for mariner 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'mariner.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin marinarius, from marinus

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of mariner was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near mariner

Cite this Entry

“Mariner.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mariner. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

mariner

noun
mar·​i·​ner ˈmar-ə-nər How to pronounce mariner (audio)
: one who navigates or assists in navigating a ship : sailor

More from Merriam-Webster on mariner

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