privateer

Fetched 2026-10-26 (cache).

Synonyms: privater, private, privately, privates, privatizer, privateers, privatiser, privatest

Antonyms: privater, private, privately, privates, privatizer, privateers, privatiser, privatest

Related words from Datamuse; suggestions, not definitions.

Noun

{{lb|en|historical}} A privately owned [[warship]] that acted under a [[letter of marque]] to [[attack]] [[enemy]] [[merchant ship]]s and take possession of their cargo. {{defdate|from 17th c.}}
{{lb|en|historical}} An [[officer]] or any other member of the [[crew]] of such a ship; a government-sanctioned [[pirate]]. {{defdate|from 17th c.}}
An advocate or beneficiary of privatization of a government service or activity.
{{lb|en|motor racing|chiefly|_|North America|Australia}} A private individual entrant into a race or competition who does not have the backing of a large, professional team. {{defdate|from 20th c.}}
{{lb|en|motorsports|elite championships}} A [[racing]] [[team]] that is not a [[subsidiary]] of a [[large]] [[conglomerate]], or [[automotive]] or [[vehicle]] [[manufacturer]].

To function under official sanction permitting attacks on enemy shipping and seizing ship and cargo; to engage in government-sponsored [[piracy]]. {{defdate|from 17th c.}}
To advocate or benefit from [[privatization]] of government services.

Source: Wiktionary · CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wiktionary dump) · cached copy, not a rewrite.