English · Word Candidate

sailor

/ˈseɪ.lɚ/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: sailors

Sense 1

Meaning · English

A person who sails; one whose occupation is sailing or navigating ships or other waterborne craft.

Noun

Examples

He's a talented sailor and has spent many years at sea.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

A person who sails; one whose occupation is sailing or navigating ships or other waterborne craft. — In particular, a member of the crew of a (civilian or military) vessel, as opposed to a captain, admiral, etc.; a mariner; a common seaman.

Noun

Examples

Merchants, common sailors, captains of vessels, skippers, […] naval officers of all countries, and the Governments of several states on the two continents, were deeply interested in the matter.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “sailor” mean?

A person who sails; one whose occupation is sailing or navigating ships or other waterborne craft.

Is “sailor” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.