What does "stevedore" mean?
A dockworker involved in loading and unloading cargo, or in supervising such work.
Stevedore
/ˈstiːvəˌdɔː(ɹ)/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Uncommon ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A dockworker involved in loading and unloading cargo, or in supervising such work.
- Grammar: stevedore is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: dockhand, dockworker, aquarius, bearer.
- Useful contrasts: unloader.
- Usage evidence: The work of discharging and loading cargoes other than coal is undertaken by master stevedores, who are employed by the shipowner.
How to use "stevedore"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "stevedore" 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 "stevedore" 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 "stevedore" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "stevedore" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "stevedore" 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 "dockhand" 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.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "stevedore", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
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 dockworker involved in loading and unloading cargo, or in supervising such work.
"Stowadores."
- 2 a laborer who loads and unloads vessels in a port wordnet
Verb
- 1 To load or unload a ship's cargo. transitive
"During the year 334,242 tons of cargo were stevedored and 933,092 tons were handled and transferred."
Antonyms
Example
"The work of discharging and loading cargoes other than coal is undertaken by master stevedores, who are employed by the shipowner."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "stevedore"?
Common synonyms include: dockhand, dockworker, aquarius, bearer, bheesty, busboy.
How do you use "stevedore" in a sentence?
The work of discharging and loading cargoes other than coal is undertaken by master stevedores, who are employed by the shipowner.
How do you pronounce "stevedore"?
Pronounced /ˈstiːvəˌdɔː(ɹ)/.
Etymology
From Spanish estibador (cognate with Portuguese estivador, and compare Medieval Latin stivator), from estivar, estibar (“to load”), from Medieval Latin stivare, stīpāre (compare Italian stivare, stipare), the present active infinitive of stīpō (“to cram, fill, stuff”), derived from Proto-Indo-European *steypos, which is from the root Proto-Indo-European *steyp-. It is cognate with stiff through Proto-Indo-European. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the word was attested in 1788 in the early form stowadore (see the quotations). It was included in the 1st edition of Webster’s Dictionary (1828) as stevedore.