privateer
/ˌpraɪvəˈtɪr/
noun
- A privately owned ship that is authorized by a government to attack enemy ships during wartime.
- The government issued letters of marque to the privateer, allowing it to raid enemy ports.
- During the war, the privateer captured several enemy merchant vessels.
- Many privateers became wealthy from the cargo they seized at sea.
- A person who commands or serves on a privateer ship.
- The famous privateer was celebrated as a hero in his home country.
- He joined the crew of a privateer hoping to find adventure and treasure.
- The privateer was known for his daring raids along the coast.
- A person or organization that acts independently or outside official channels, often in a competitive or aggressive way.
- The journalist operated as a privateer, publishing stories that others were afraid to touch.
- In the world of finance, he was a privateer, taking risks that larger firms avoided.
- The startup acted like a privateer, disrupting the industry with unconventional tactics.
verb
- To engage in privateering; to attack enemy ships as a privateer.
- Many sailors chose to privateer rather than serve in the regular navy.
- They privateered along the trade routes, preying on unprotected vessels.
- The captain decided to privateer against the rival nation's fleet.