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Definition of stowaway

stowaway

/ˈstoʊ.əˌweɪ/
stow · a · way
Plural:stowaways
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stowaway Lexical Profile

stowaway Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A person who secretly boards a ship, aircraft, train, or other vehicle in order to travel without paying or being detected.

Example

"The crew discovered a young stowaway hiding among the cargo crates three days after the ship left port."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
View all antonyms for stowaway

Word Nuance & Usage

The closed compound "stowaway" functions as a noun (or attributive noun), whereas the open two-word phrasal verb "stow away" is used for the action of hiding aboard a vehicle.

• Rhymes for stowaway

• Nearby Words

stovetop
stow
stowable
stowaway
straddle
strafe
straggle

Word Origin & Etymology

First recorded in the mid-19th century as a noun conversion of the phrasal verb "stow away," combining "stow" (from Old English "stow," meaning "a place") and "away."

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Stowaway. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/stowaway
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