noun Uncommon

seaman

SEE-muhn

Seaman (noun) means a sailor, especially one serving on a ship. Example: “The old seaman had spent forty years crewing merchant vessels.”

noun

A sailor, especially one serving on a ship.

"The old seaman had spent forty years crewing merchant vessels."

A junior naval rank below petty officer.

"He enlisted as an ordinary seaman straight out of school."

How to use seaman

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA sailor, or a specific junior rank in the navy.

Easily confused with

semen →

seamen plural, Seamans plural

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Test yourself on “seaman” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Can you complete this real example?

The old _____ had spent forty years crewing merchant vessels.

From Old English sǣmann, equivalent to sea + man.

Origin: Old English

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What does “seaman” mean?

The word “seaman” means a sailor, especially one serving on a ship. In plain terms, a sailor, or a specific junior rank in the navy.

How do you pronounce “seaman”?

“Seaman” is pronounced SEE-muhn (/ˈsiːmən/ in IPA).

How do you use “seaman” in a sentence?

Here is “seaman” used in a sentence: “The old seaman had spent forty years crewing merchant vessels.”

What part of speech is “seaman”?

“Seaman” is a noun.

Where does the word “seaman” come from?

The word “seaman” comes from Old English. From Old English sǣmann, equivalent to sea + man.

Is “seaman” a common word?

“Seaman” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “seaman” have?

“Seaman” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a sailor, especially one serving on a ship.

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