seaman
gb/sˈimən/ us/sˈimən/
B2
English
~ 9100
tengerész, matróz
NOUN
B2
1
tengerész
B1
Usage pattern:
a seaman on [a ship]
After ten years as a seaman, he knew every part of the ship by heart.
Tíz év tengerészként eltöltött idő után kívülről ismerte a hajó minden részét.
The storm was so strong that even the most experienced seaman on board looked worried.
A vihar olyan erős volt, hogy még a fedélzeten lévő legtapasztaltabb tengerész is aggódott.
She worked as a merchant seaman, carrying cargo between Europe and South America.
The captain ordered each seaman to report to his station for the safety drill.
As a young seaman, he spent months at sea without seeing his family.
Learner examples
The seaman worked long hours on the ship.
A tengerész hosszú órákat dolgozott a hajón.
A seaman must know how to use the safety equipment.
A tengerésznek tudnia kell, hogyan kell használni a biztonsági felszerelést.
The young seaman looked at the sea and missed his home.
Every seaman on the boat had a clear job.
He wants to travel the world as a seaman.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "seaman" with "sailor". "Sailor" is more common and general; "seaman" is often used for professional crew. Another common mistake is using the wrong plural. The correct plural is "seamen", not "seamans". Learners may also confuse the spelling or pronunciation with the different word "semen" (a biological term).
Meaning
person who works on a ship
Collocations
merchant seaman
|able seaman
|experienced seaman
|seaman on board
|seaman on leave
|Navy seaman
Synonyms
sailor (More common general word; can be used for anyone who sails, not only professional crew.)
|
seafarer (Often slightly more formal or literary and can sound broader or more romantic than the practical term "seaman.")
|
crewman (Emphasizes being one of the crew; used for ships, aircraft, or other vehicles, not only at sea.)
Antonyms
landsman (Specifically someone with little or no experience at sea; emphasizes the opposite of a trained seaman.)
Themes
work
|travel
|transport
|transportation
Definition
A person who works on a ship at sea as part of the crew.
A person, usually a trained professional, who works as a member of the crew on a sea‑going ship.
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
2
matróz
B2
Usage pattern:
a seaman in [a navy]
He enlisted in the U.S. Navy as a seaman and hoped to work his way up to petty officer.
Matrózként lépett be az amerikai haditengerészetbe, és remélte, hogy idővel tiszthelyettes lesz.
The training program is open to seaman recruits and more senior seamen.
A kiképzési program matrózújoncok és magasabb rendfokozatú matrózok számára is nyitott.
After two years of service, she was promoted from seaman to petty officer third class.
The incident report listed the injured person as a twenty‑year‑old seaman on active duty.
As a seaman, he was responsible for basic deck duties and watch standing.
Learner examples
He joined the navy as a seaman.
Matrózként csatlakozott a haditengerészethez.
The young seaman learned navy rules in basic training.
A fiatal matróz az alapkiképzésen tanulta meg a haditengerészet szabályait.
After good service, the seaman got a higher rank.
The seaman lived on the ship for many months.
Only seamen and officers were allowed in that area.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think "seaman" always means a low military rank. In many contexts it just means a sailor, but in official navy documents it is a specific enlisted rank. In military writing, it is usually capitalized when used as a rank title before a name (e.g. "Seaman Jones").
Meaning
low enlisted rank in a navy
Collocations
seaman second class
|Navy seaman
|seaman recruit
|seaman apprentice
|promoted to seaman
|seaman on active duty
Synonyms
sailor (Can refer to a member of the navy, but does not specifically indicate rank the way "seaman" does in military contexts.)
|
rating (Naval term (especially in British usage) for an enlisted sailor; similar group, but not an exact rank name like "seaman.")
Antonyms
officer (In a navy, officers hold command or specialist positions and have higher rank than seamen.)
Themes
military
|work
|law
Definition
A low military rank for a person who serves as a sailor in a navy.
An enlisted naval rank, typically one of the lowest levels for sailors in a navy or coast guard.
Grammar
Dictionary form
seaman
IPA
GB/sˈimən/
US/sˈimən/
Syllables & stress
sea - man (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (sea)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: seaman
- Plural: seamen
Word family
Expressions
able seaman
1/ˈeɪbəl sˈimən/
fixed phrase
technical
rank: trained experienced seaman
A sailor on a ship who has completed basic training, has sea experience, and holds a rank above an ordinary seaman.
Examples
- After several years at sea, he was promoted to able seaman.
- The able seaman was in charge of the deck crew during the maneuver.
- To work as an able seaman, you must pass safety and skills tests.
merchant seaman
1/mˈɚt͡ʃənt sˈimən/
fixed phrase
sailor on a commercial ship
A person who works as a sailor on a commercial ship that carries goods or passengers, not in the navy.
Examples
- He spent most of his life as a merchant seaman, carrying cargo between distant ports.
- The company is looking for experienced merchant seamen to crew its new container ships.
- Her father was a merchant seaman and was often away from home for months.
ordinary seaman
1/ˈɔɹdɪnˌɛɹi sˈimən/
fixed phrase
technical
entry‑level crew rank on ship
A low‑level sailor on a ship who has some training but less experience and rank than an able seaman.
Examples
- He started as an ordinary seaman before gaining enough experience to move up.
- The ordinary seaman was assigned simple deck work and cleaning duties.
- Many ordinary seamen hope to become able seamen after a few years at sea.
seaman apprentice
1/sˈimən əpɹˈɛntɪs/
fixed phrase
technical
junior enlisted sailor rank
A low but not the very lowest rank for a sailor in some navies, higher than a recruit but lower than a full seaman.
Examples
- She advanced from seaman recruit to seaman apprentice after finishing her first training phase.
- As a seaman apprentice, he was still learning basic shipboard duties.
seaman recruit
1/sˈimən ɹɪkɹˈut/
fixed phrase
technical
lowest trainee rank in navy
The lowest rank for a new sailor in some navies, usually during basic training.
Examples
- He entered basic training as a seaman recruit at the age of nineteen.
- The program is only open to seaman recruits and other junior enlisted sailors.