noun
C2
Proficient
buccaneer
buh-kuh-NIH
Buccaneer (noun) means a pirate, especially one of the 17th-century seafarers who raided Spanish ships and settlements in the Caribbean. Example: “The museum has a display on buccaneers who once terrorized these waters.”
noun
1
A pirate, especially one of the 17th-century seafarers who raided Spanish ships and settlements in the Caribbean.
"The museum has a display on buccaneers who once terrorized these waters."
2
Someone who acts in a bold, adventurous, and slightly unscrupulous way, especially in business.
"The company was built by a buccaneer entrepreneur unafraid of risk."
How to use buccaneer
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA pirate, or more loosely, a daring and reckless risk-taker.
Common pairings
buccaneer spirit
swashbuckling buccaneer
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Word forms
- Plural
- buccaneers
- Third person singular
- buccaneers
- Past tense
- buccaneered
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The museum has a display on _____ who once terrorized these waters.
Etymology
From French boucanier, someone who smoked meat on a boucan (grill), from the Tupi word mboka'e — the name shifted from meat-smokers to the pirates who adopted their lifestyle in the Caribbean.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for buccaneer
See all rhymes for buccaneer →Frequently asked questions
What does “buccaneer” mean?
The word “buccaneer” means a pirate, especially one of the 17th-century seafarers who raided Spanish ships and settlements in the Caribbean. In plain terms, a pirate, or more loosely, a daring and reckless risk-taker.
How do you pronounce “buccaneer”?
“Buccaneer” is pronounced buh-kuh-NIH (/ˌbʌkəˈnɪɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “buccaneer” in a sentence?
Here is “buccaneer” used in a sentence: “The museum has a display on buccaneers who once terrorized these waters.”
What is another word for “buccaneer”?
Words with a similar meaning to “buccaneer” include privateer and pirate.
What part of speech is “buccaneer”?
“Buccaneer” is a noun.
Where does the word “buccaneer” come from?
The word “buccaneer” comes from French. From French boucanier, someone who smoked meat on a boucan (grill), from the Tupi word mboka'e — the name shifted from meat-smokers to the pirates who adopted their lifestyle in the Caribbean.
How many meanings does “buccaneer” have?
“Buccaneer” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a pirate, especially one of the 17th-century seafarers who raided Spanish ships and settlements in the Caribbean.
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