What does "privateer" mean?
A privately owned warship that acted under a letter of marque to attack enemy merchant ships and take possession of their cargo.
Privateer
/ˌpɹaɪ.vəˈtɪɚ/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A privately owned warship that acted under a letter of marque to attack enemy merchant ships and take possession of their cargo.
- Grammar: privateer is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: ab, able seaman, able-bodied seaman, air pirate.
- Useful contrasts: defend, forbid, freebooter.
- Usage evidence: The privateer is a licensed, the pirate an unlicensed, plunderer; but plunder, not patriotism, being, as a rule, the motive of the former, it is not perhaps surprising that, failing legitimate prey, he has sometimes adopted, to a great extent, the tactics of the latter.
How to use "privateer"
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- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "privateer" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "privateer" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "privateer" as the right word for your sentence.
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Compare nearby meanings
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Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "privateer" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "ab" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
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When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A privately owned warship that acted under a letter of marque to attack enemy merchant ships and take possession of their cargo. historical
- 2 a privately owned warship commissioned to prey on the commercial shipping or warships of an enemy nation wordnet
- 3 An officer or any other member of the crew of such a ship; a government-sanctioned pirate. historical
"Kidd soon threw off the character of a privateer and became a pirate."
- 4 an officer or crew member of a privateer wordnet
- 5 An advocate or beneficiary of privatization of a government service or activity.
"This is a major victory, not only for CUPW because it will deter profit-hungry privateers from taking work away from CUPW members, but also because it gives union protection to those employed by the privateers."
Show 2 more definitions
- 6 A private individual entrant into a race or competition who does not have the backing of a large, professional team. Australia, Canada, US
- 7 A racing team that is not a subsidiary of a large conglomerate, or automotive or vehicle manufacturer.
Verb
- 1 To function under official sanction permitting attacks on enemy shipping and seizing ship and cargo; to engage in government-sponsored piracy.
- 2 To advocate or benefit from privatization of government services.
"The principle of collective bargaining has been a basic point of dispute; it infringes, as Perlman pointed out, the privileges associated with private ownership and management of property. […] These so-called charters were simply a license given to shady elements to privateer against the strong and growing unions."
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"The privateer is a licensed, the pirate an unlicensed, plunderer; but plunder, not patriotism, being, as a rule, the motive of the former, it is not perhaps surprising that, failing legitimate prey, he has sometimes adopted, to a great extent, the tactics of the latter."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "privateer"?
Common synonyms include: ab, able seaman, able-bodied seaman, air pirate, airplane hijacker, ancient mariner.
How do you use "privateer" in a sentence?
The privateer is a licensed, the pirate an unlicensed, plunderer; but plunder, not patriotism, being, as a rule, the motive of the former, it is not perhaps surprising that, failing legitimate prey, he has sometimes adopted, to a great extent, the tactics of the latter.
How do you pronounce "privateer"?
Pronounced /ˌpɹaɪ.vəˈtɪɚ/.
Etymology
From private + -eer probably after volunteer, shortened from the original term "Private Man-of-war".