Privateer
noun
A pirate authorized by a government to attack and steal from enemy ships during wartime.
The English king gave the privateers the right to attack Spanish ships during the war.
Usage tips
Historical
noun
An armed ship owned and officered by private individuals.
The privateer was commissioned by the government to wage war on its behalf.
Usage tips
Legal, Naval
noun
A competitor, especially in business, who is eager to win at all costs.
He's a privateer who will do anything to close a deal and make profit.
Usage tips
Informal, Disapproving
Colloquial
noun
A pirate authorized by a government to attack and steal from enemy ships during wartime.
The English king gave the privateers the right to attack Spanish ships during the war.
Usage tips
Historical
noun
An armed ship owned and officered by private individuals.
The privateer was commissioned by the government to wage war on its behalf.
Usage tips
Legal, Naval
noun
A competitor, especially in business, who is eager to win at all costs.
He's a privateer who will do anything to close a deal and make profit.
Usage tips
Informal, Disapproving
Colloquial
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Historical Context
Privateers played a role in naval history and were not considered outright pirates due to government backing.
Studying the Golden Age of Piracy, you'll learn about famous privateers' contributions to history.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Modern Pirates
Don't confuse privateers with modern piracy; privateers were a legal wartime phenomenon.
Unlike modern pirates, privateers from the past had government permission to capture enemy vessels.
Pro Tip 3/3Legal Distinction
Understand the difference: privateers were legal under their sponsor nation's laws, pirates were not.
He fascinated me with tales of his ancestor, a legal privateer, not a rogue pirate.
Pro Tip 1/3Historical Context
Privateers played a role in naval history and were not considered outright pirates due to government backing.
Studying the Golden Age of Piracy, you'll learn about famous privateers' contributions to history.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Modern Pirates
Don't confuse privateers with modern piracy; privateers were a legal wartime phenomenon.
Unlike modern pirates, privateers from the past had government permission to capture enemy vessels.
Pro Tip 3/3Legal Distinction
Understand the difference: privateers were legal under their sponsor nation's laws, pirates were not.
He fascinated me with tales of his ancestor, a legal privateer, not a rogue pirate.
Pro Tip 1/3Historical Context
Privateers played a role in naval history and were not considered outright pirates due to government backing.
Studying the Golden Age of Piracy, you'll learn about famous privateers' contributions to history.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Modern Pirates
Don't confuse privateers with modern piracy; privateers were a legal wartime phenomenon.
Unlike modern pirates, privateers from the past had government permission to capture enemy vessels.
Pro Tip 3/3Legal Distinction
Understand the difference: privateers were legal under their sponsor nation's laws, pirates were not.
He fascinated me with tales of his ancestor, a legal privateer, not a rogue pirate.
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Video examples
The most successful...
So they commissioned Guangzhou’s pirates to raid the coast and join the fight against their enemies. Serving their Vietnamese patrons turned the Zhengs and other pirates from ragtag gangs aboard single vessels into professional privateer fleets
Video examples
Water Rockets PIPE I Didn't...
travel into space you need the backing of a government and a rich government of that but it's all starting to change the 21st century is heralding the arrival of The Rocketeer privateer on the 21st of
Video examples
The most successful...
So they commissioned Guangzhou’s pirates to raid the coast and join the fight against their enemies. Serving their Vietnamese patrons turned the Zhengs and other pirates from ragtag gangs aboard single vessels into professional privateer fleets
Video examples
Water Rockets PIPE I Didn't...
travel into space you need the backing of a government and a rich government of that but it's all starting to change the 21st century is heralding the arrival of The Rocketeer privateer on the 21st of
Example 1 of 2
Quote examples
John Paul Jones
American Soldier
It is to the last degree distressing to contemplate the state and establishment of our navy... unless the private emolument of individuals in our navy is made superior to that in privateers, it never can become respectable; it never will become formidable. And without a respectable navy - alas, America!
Quote examples
John Paul Jones
American Soldier
The common class of mankind are actuated by no nobler principle than that of self-interest; this and this alone determines all adventurers in privateers: the owners, as well as those whom they employ.
Quote examples
William Whipple
American Politician
I think experience has shown that privateers have done more toward distressing the trade of our enemies, and furnishing these States with necessaries, than Continental Ships of the same force.
Quote examples
Leigh Bardugo
Israeli Author
Sturmhond, a privateer from the second book in the series, Siege and Storm,' is probably my favorite character. He's pure confidence and that's always fun to write.
Quote examples
Ron Williams
American Businessman
As a CEO, I had significant exposure to private equity, enough that I had in no way bought into the media's caricature: rapacious privateers who destroy companies.
Quote examples
Mary H.K. Choi
South Korean Author
Privateers, military contractors - these aren't pirates. They have bosses. Real pirates are sellswords on missions of their own making.
Quote examples
John Paul Jones
American Soldier
It is to the last degree distressing to contemplate the state and establishment of our navy... unless the private emolument of individuals in our navy is made superior to that in privateers, it never can become respectable; it never will become formidable. And without a respectable navy - alas, America!
Quote examples
John Paul Jones
American Soldier
The common class of mankind are actuated by no nobler principle than that of self-interest; this and this alone determines all adventurers in privateers: the owners, as well as those whom they employ.
Quote examples
William Whipple
American Politician
I think experience has shown that privateers have done more toward distressing the trade of our enemies, and furnishing these States with necessaries, than Continental Ships of the same force.
Quote examples
Leigh Bardugo
Israeli Author
Sturmhond, a privateer from the second book in the series, Siege and Storm,' is probably my favorite character. He's pure confidence and that's always fun to write.
Quote examples
Ron Williams
American Businessman
As a CEO, I had significant exposure to private equity, enough that I had in no way bought into the media's caricature: rapacious privateers who destroy companies.
Quote examples
Mary H.K. Choi
South Korean Author
Privateers, military contractors - these aren't pirates. They have bosses. Real pirates are sellswords on missions of their own making.
Example 1 of 6
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