mariner
gb/mˈɛɹənɚ/ us/mˈɛɹənɚ/
C1
English
Senses
0 senses
Noun
formal
C1
role
1
a sailor; someone who works at sea
A person who works on a ship at sea.
Usage pattern:
a mariner; [adjective] mariner
Common mistake:
Learners often use "mariner" where "sailor" is more natural in everyday speech.
Synonyms
sailor (More common and neutral in everyday English.)
|
seafarer (Neutral and slightly broader; emphasizes life/work at sea.)
|
seaman (More traditional; can sound official or old-fashioned.)
Antonyms
landlubber (Informal term for someone unfamiliar with the sea.)
Collocations
experienced mariner
|skilled mariner
|seasoned mariner
|a lone mariner
|a mariner at sea
|the mariner's life
|mariners and fishermen
|a mariner's log
|a mariner's tale
|mariners on board
Themes
travel
|work
|ocean
|transport
Examples
- The rescued mariner said the storm hit without warning.
- She comes from a family of mariners who have crossed the Atlantic for generations.
- The museum exhibits honor mariners lost at sea.
Learner examples
- My grandfather was a mariner.
- The mariner worked on a ship.
Noun
formal
C1
role
2
a professional merchant-ship sailor
A sailor who works on commercial ships.
Usage pattern:
a mariner; licensed/certified mariner
Common mistake:
Learners may assume "mariner" always means a navy sailor; it often refers to commercial shipping contexts.
Synonyms
merchant seaman (More specific to commercial ships; traditional wording.)
|
crew member (More general; not limited to seagoing professionals.)
Antonyms
passenger (Not part of the working crew.)
Collocations
merchant mariner
|licensed mariner
|certified mariner
|professional mariner
|career mariner
|mariner credentials
|mariner training
|mariner union
|mariner safety
|mariner shortage
Themes
work
|business
|transport
|ocean
Examples
- As a mariner, he spent months at a time on container ships.
- The program offers training for mariners seeking higher licenses.
- The investigation included interviews with mariners from several shipping companies.
Learner examples
- She is a mariner on a cargo ship.
- He trained to become a mariner.
Grammar
Dictionary form
mariner
IPA
GB/mˈɛɹənɚ/
US/mˈɛɹənɚ/
Syllables & stress
mar - iner (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (mar)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: mariner
- Plural: mariners
Word family
Expressions
an ancient mariner
1/ən ˈeɪnʃənt mˈɛɹənɚ/
fixed phrase
literary
someone who tells long stories
Someone who won’t stop telling a long story.
Examples
- He cornered me at the party and, like an ancient mariner, launched into a two-hour tale.
- Don’t play the ancient mariner with the new interns—they have work to do.
- She felt like an ancient mariner, repeating the same story to every visitor.
mariner's compass
1/mˈɛɹənɚz kˈʌmpəs/
fixed phrase
technical
a compass used for navigation
A compass used to find direction at sea.
Examples
- Before GPS, the mariner's compass was essential for keeping a steady course.
- The exhibit includes a 19th-century mariner's compass and nautical charts.
- He checked the mariner's compass to confirm the ship was heading east.