seaman: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Professional, Nautical, Historical
Quick answer
What does “seaman” mean?
A person who works on a ship, especially one who is not an officer.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person who works on a ship, especially one who is not an officer.
A skilled sailor or mariner; a member of a ship's crew below the rank of officer. In a naval context, a non-commissioned member of a navy.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both use the term identically for the nautical rank/role. 'Seaman' is the official US Navy rank (e.g., Seaman Recruit). The Royal Navy uses 'able seaman' as a rating.
Connotations
In both, it's professional/technical. Slightly more likely to be used in historical or literary contexts in everyday British English.
Frequency
More frequent in technical, legal, and military contexts in both varieties. Less common than 'sailor' in casual speech.
Grammar
How to Use “seaman” in a Sentence
seaman + on + [ship/vessel]seaman + in + [navy/merchant marine]rank/rating of + seamanVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “seaman” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He seamaned his way across the oceans. (Non-standard/archaic – extremely rare)
American English
- The old salt could seaman a vessel with the best of them. (Non-standard/archaic – extremely rare)
adverb
British English
- He worked seamanly throughout the storm. (Archaic/obsolete)
American English
- The gear was stowed seamanly. (Archaic/obsolete)
adjective
British English
- He comes from a long line of seaman families. (Rare, 'seafaring' preferred)
American English
- The company offered seaman benefits to all crew. (Rare, 'seafarer' or 'mariner' used adjectivally)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in shipping, logistics, and maritime law (e.g., 'contract for the seaman').
Academic
Found in historical, nautical, and military studies.
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation; 'sailor' is preferred.
Technical
Standard in maritime professions, navigation, and naval forces to denote specific ranks/ratings.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “seaman”
- Using 'seaman' as a general synonym for 'sailor' in informal contexts (sounds odd).
- Misspelling plural as 'seamans' (correct: 'seamen').
- Pronouncing it as two separate words 'sea man'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Historically no, but modern maritime and naval organisations increasingly use gender-neutral terms like 'sailor', 'mariner', or 'seafarer' for general reference, though the rank titles (e.g., Seaman Recruit) often remain.
'Sailor' is the broad, common term for anyone who sails or works on ships. 'Seaman' is more specific, often referring to a non-officer crew member or a formal naval rank, and is used in professional/legal contexts.
It is pronounced /ˈsiːmən/ (identical to the singular). Context clarifies number.
It is grammatically possible but stylistically awkward and increasingly avoided. 'Woman sailor', 'female sailor', or simply 'sailor' are more natural. Some navies have introduced alternative ratings (e.g., 'seafarer') to avoid the issue.
A person who works on a ship, especially one who is not an officer.
Seaman is usually formal, professional, nautical, historical in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: A SEA MAN is literally a man of the sea.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE SEA AS A PROFESSIONAL DOMAIN (e.g., 'He is a seasoned man of the sea').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'seaman' the MOST appropriate term?