raider

noun

raid·​er ˈrā-dər How to pronounce raider (audio)
: one that raids: such as
a
: a fast lightly armed ship operating against merchant shipping
b
: a soldier specially trained for close-range fighting
c
: one that attempts a usually hostile takeover of a business corporation
corporate raiders

Examples of raider in a Sentence

The village needs protection from enemy raiders. Raiders had emptied the tomb of treasure. He made his fortune as a corporate raider.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Michael Douglas, Wall Street Michael Douglas' role in the first Wall Street film as corporate raider Gordon Gekko won him the award for Best Actor in 1988. Alexandra Schonfeld, People.com, 2 Mar. 2025 Viking Skulls Reveal the Ancient People Were Hardy, but Not Healthy Trading and Settlements During the Viking period, raiders and traders set sail, founding numerous trading hubs and settlements across Europe. Sean Mowbray, Discover Magazine, 27 Feb. 2025 However, early resistance to the offer suggests an even more important factor that may foil the attempt of corporate raiders to remake the government in their image. Christopher Wong Michaelson and Jennifer Tosti-Kharas, TIME, 6 Feb. 2025 British Navy personnel stationed in the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea had seen how fast Arab dhows secretly armed with a three-pounder gun and a machine gun successfully defeated pirates and slave raiders. Sean Kingsley, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for raider

Word History

First Known Use

1861, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of raider was in 1861

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Raider.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/raider. Accessed 15 Mar. 2025.

Legal Definition

raider

noun
raid·​er
: one that attempts a usually hostile takeover of a business corporation compare white knight

More from Merriam-Webster on raider

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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