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Definition of merchantman
merchantman
/ˈmɝːtʃəntmən/
mer · chant · man
Plural:merchantmen
merchantman Lexical Profile
CEFR
C1
Grade
10
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
merchantman Game Scores & Validity
Scrabble US
Scrabble UK
WWF
Wordle Guess
• noun
1
A ship or vessel engaged in commercial trade or the transportation of goods, as distinguished from a naval warship.
Example
"During the 18th century, heavily armed merchantmen were often used to transport valuable cargo across the Atlantic."
2
A man who is a merchant or trader (chiefly historical).
Example
"The wealthy merchantman displayed his fine imported silks in the bustling medieval market."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for merchantman Antonyms
View all antonyms for merchantmanWord Nuance & Usage
In nautical terminology, the suffix '-man' was historically used to denote specific types of ships rather than people, similar to the construction of 'man-of-war' or 'Indiaman'.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Late Middle English, formed by combining 'merchant' (trader) with 'man' (which in maritime contexts frequently referred to a vessel).
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Merchantman. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 12, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/merchantman