pirate
18 synonyms for pirate, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — Someone who attacks and robs ships at sea.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
marauder
plunderer
privateer
bootlegger
brigand
sea wolf
buccaneer
corsair
freebooter
picaroon
raider
reaver
sea rat
sea-robber
sea rover
highjack
hijack
commandeer
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun
Someone who attacks and robs ships at sea.
“The museum has a display about pirates who once sailed these waters.”
2. verb
To copy or distribute copyrighted material without permission.
“The company sued a website that pirated its films and shared them for free.”
How to use pirate
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
pirate ship
pirate a movie
software pirate
Etymology
From Old French pirate, from Latin pirata, from Greek peiratēs, related to peira ("attempt, trial"). It replaced the native Old English word wicing, which originally covered both "pirate" and "viking".
Full origin of pirate →Frequently asked questions
What does “pirate” mean?
The word “pirate” means someone who attacks and robs ships at sea. In plain terms, a sea robber, or (as a verb) to illegally copy and share protected content.
How do you pronounce “pirate”?
“Pirate” is pronounced PEYE-ruht (/ˈpaɪɹət/ in IPA).
How do you use “pirate” in a sentence?
Here is “pirate” used in a sentence: “The film follows a crew of pirates hunting for buried treasure.”
What is another word for “pirate”?
Words with a similar meaning to “pirate” include buccaneer, corsair, freebooter, picaroon, raider and reaver.
What part of speech is “pirate”?
Depending on how it is used, “pirate” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “pirate” come from?
The word “pirate” comes from Latin. From Old French pirate, from Latin pirata, from Greek peiratēs, related to peira ("attempt, trial"). It replaced the native Old English word wicing, which originally covered both "pirate" and "viking".
Is “pirate” a common word?
“Pirate” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “pirate” have?
“Pirate” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: someone who attacks and robs ships at sea.
What is the difference between a "pirate" and a "privateer"?
A pirate attacks and robs ships at sea for personal gain and acts outside the law. A privateer did much the same but carried official government permission to attack enemy ships during wartime, which made their raiding legal in the eyes of their own country.
What is the difference between a "pirate" and a "buccaneer"?
Both attack and rob ships, and the words are often used interchangeably. "Buccaneer" refers more specifically to the raiders who operated in the Caribbean, while "pirate" is the general term for anyone who robs ships at sea.
