privateer
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
But the engine was heavy, thirsty and unreliable, and a difficult season followed before Jordan ditched the Yamaha for a privateer Hart engine.
From BBC ● Mar. 20, 2025
She either became a privateer herself, taking to the Mediterranean Sea to attack Spanish holdings such as Gibraltar, or she licensed privateers to attack Spain in her name.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 2, 2024
His father, Jan Jansen, a Dutch privateer, was captured by one of the Moorish states in 1618.
From New York Times ● Dec. 3, 2019
It was here that the White Lion, a 160-ton English privateer ship, landed at what was then known as Point Comfort.
From The Guardian ● Aug. 14, 2019
“How long before a privateer comes back? It all depends. Maybe in a few months, maybe in a year, maybe longer.”
From "Carry On, Mr. Bowditch" by Jean Lee Latham
![]()
These are licenses for private parties, known as privateers, to capture prizes at sea.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 15, 2026
In theory, pirates plunder and pillage outside the law, while corsairs were privateers regulated by authorities.
From National Geographic ● Jan. 11, 2024
The privateers were sponsored by the state, and set a ransom of 500 Guineas for Capt Lambton who was sailing The Stephenson from Bristol to Newcastle at the time.
From BBC ● May 17, 2023
She theorizes that fake dollars could be passed to privateers trading on the black market.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 24, 2016
Genêt’s first action in the United States was to hire American privateers, privately owned and manned ships, to attack and plunder British ships in the name of his government.
From "An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793" by Jim Murphy
![]()
An 1856 treaty purported to ban privateering, but the U.S. refused to sign.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 15, 2026
The Protestant queen wanted colonies that would act as an ideological counterweight to Spanish Catholicism in the Americas and provide a base of operations for privateering expeditions that would raid Spanish shipping.
From Textbooks ● Dec. 14, 2022
While the practice known as privateering is archaic, the idea has come up in recent decades.
From Washington Post ● Mar. 3, 2022
Rather, the main reasons were an increase in trade, a decline in piracy and privateering and an improvement of ports.
From New York Times ● Nov. 24, 2015
In 1619, the first Africans arrived in the Virginia colony on a privateering ship.
From "Blood on the River" by Elisa Carbone
![]()
Vocabulary lists containing privateer
Words Every Pirate Should Know
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Chapter 6: The American Revolution
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Torpedoed
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!