mariner
noun
mar·i·ner
ˈmer-ə-nər 
ˈma-rə-
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In Coleridge's Rime of the Ancient Mariner, an old seaman tells of how, by shooting a friendly albatross, he had brought storms and disaster to his ship, and how as punishment his shipmates hung the great seabird around the mariner's neck and made him wear it until it rotted. The word mariner has occasionally been used to mean simply "explorer", as in the famous Mariner spaceflights in the 1960s and '70s, the first to fly close to Mars, Venus, and Mercury.
Synonyms
Examples of mariner in a Sentence
the ancient Phoenicians were outstanding mariners who explored and colonized much of the eastern Mediterranean
Recent Examples on the Web
Zoom in: The name change, first reported by Bloomberg, will affect everything from routine marine forecasts for mariners to tropical storm and hurricane forecasts.
—
Andrew Freedman, Axios, 13 Feb. 2025
After the Nazis invaded Denmark during World War II, the US stepped up to help to protect Greenland, and Dans’ grandfather was part of that effort as a merchant mariner.
—Donie O'Sullivan, CNN, 9 Feb. 2025
The shallow waters, shifting sandbanks, unpredictable tides and strong currents have historically made navigation difficult and dangerous for mariners.
—Barbara A. Perry, Newsweek, 28 Jan. 2025
Thursday’s launch then got pushed back by about half an hour when a boat strayed into the keep-away zone designed offshore for mariners’ safety.
—Rob Pegoraro, PCMAG, 16 Jan. 2025
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Andrew Freedman, Axios, 13 Feb. 2025
After the Nazis invaded Denmark during World War II, the US stepped up to help to protect Greenland, and Dans’ grandfather was part of that effort as a merchant mariner.
—Donie O'Sullivan, CNN, 9 Feb. 2025
The shallow waters, shifting sandbanks, unpredictable tides and strong currents have historically made navigation difficult and dangerous for mariners.
—Barbara A. Perry, Newsweek, 28 Jan. 2025
Thursday’s launch then got pushed back by about half an hour when a boat strayed into the keep-away zone designed offshore for mariners’ safety.
—Rob Pegoraro, PCMAG, 16 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for mariner
Dictionary Entries Near mariner
Cite this Entry
“Mariner.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mariner. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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mariner
noun
mar·i·ner
ˈmar-ə-nər
: one who navigates or assists in navigating a ship : sailor
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