privateer
/ˌpɹaɪ.vəˈtɪɚ/noun, verb
privateer is spelled P-R-I-V-A-T-E-E-R: 9 letters and 3 syllables. It appears about once in every 3 million words in written English, the 50,539th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, privateer means “A privately owned warship that acted under a letter of marque to attack enemy merchant ships and take possession of their cargo” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of privateer is privateers.
How many letters and syllables are in privateer?
| Letters | 9: P-R-I-V-A-T-E-E-R |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 3 (from its pronunciation) |
| In writing | about once in every 3 million words; the 50,539th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
| Rhymes with |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media); rhymes and same-letter words are computed by PlainSpell from its own word list.
How common is privateer?
Privateer appears about once in every 3 million words in written English, the 50,539th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce privateer?
- UK /ˌpɹaɪ.vəˈtɪə/
- US /ˌpɹaɪ.vəˈtɪɚ/
Privateer has 3 syllables (counted from the pronunciation).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-privateer.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
What rhymes with privateer?
The 12 most written words on PlainSpell end in the same sounds as privateer from its last stressed vowel (/ɪəɹ/):
Computed by PlainSpell from the pronunciations in the English Wiktionary (dump of September 2, 2026): a rhyme shares every sound from the last stressed vowel to the end; ordered by written frequency (wordfreq 3.1).
Forms of privateer
- privateers plural, present, singular, he/she/it
- privateering participle, present
- privateered participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does privateer mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
A privately owned warship that acted under a letter of marque to attack enemy merchant ships and take possession of their cargo.
- 2
An officer or any other member of the crew of such a ship; a government-sanctioned pirate.
- 3
An advocate or beneficiary of privatization of a government service or activity.
- 4
AustraliaCanadaUSA private individual entrant into a race or competition who does not have the backing of a large, professional team.
- 5
A racing team that is not a subsidiary of a large conglomerate, or automotive or vehicle manufacturer.
verb
- 1
To function under official sanction permitting attacks on enemy shipping and seizing ship and cargo; to engage in government-sponsored piracy.
- 2
To advocate or benefit from privatization of government services.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Privateer in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | corsaire |
| German | Kaperschiff , Freibeuter |
| Portuguese | navio corsário , corsário |
| Spanish | buque corsario , corsario |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does privateer come from?
From private + -eer probably after volunteer, shortened from the original term "private man-of-war".
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).