buccaneer
noun
buc·ca·neer ˌbə-kə-ˈnir 
1
: any of the freebooters preying on Spanish ships and settlements especially in 17th century West Indies
broadly : pirate
2
: an unscrupulous adventurer especially in politics or business
buccaneer intransitive verb
buccaneerish
ˌbə-kə-ˈnir-ish
adjective 
Synonyms
- corsair
- freebooter
- pirate
- rover
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
buccaneers preyed upon treasure-laden ships in the Caribbean for nearly three hundred years
Recent Examples on the Web The bright red metal canister and buccaneer-esque design bring to mind pirates and adventure. 
The Salt Lake Tribune, 30 Mar. 2022 By this time, a fourth New Orleans buccaneer had joined the team of Harris père et fils and Theriot—David Schatz, a former railroad diesel mechanic who now heads operations at Whinstone. Shawn Tully, Fortune, 9 Mar. 2022 After trading in his comfortable life for one of a buccaneer, Stede becomes captain of a pirate ship, but struggles to earn the respect of his potentially mutinous crew. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 16 Feb. 2022 Her father was a son of Sam Lord, a notorious Barbadian buccaneer who died in 1844, relatives said. Sam Roberts, New York Times, 9 Dec. 2021 In 1760, Jacques Kanon, a buccaneer, bought the estate and gave his name for luck and prosperity. Cécilia Pelloux, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2021 Don’t miss your opportunity to talk and dress like a real buccaneer as International Talk Like a Pirate Day comes but once a year. cleveland, 16 Sep. 2021 Or Joseph Duveen, the eccentric buccaneer art dealer played by Adrien Brody in the same story. Susan Morrison, The New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2021 Garrett Basch and Dan Halsted also serve as executive producers along with Taika Waititi, who will direct the pilot as well in addition to playing Blackbeard, the infamous buccaneer. Mónica Marie Zorrilla, Variety, 20 Aug. 2021 See More
The Salt Lake Tribune, 30 Mar. 2022 By this time, a fourth New Orleans buccaneer had joined the team of Harris père et fils and Theriot—David Schatz, a former railroad diesel mechanic who now heads operations at Whinstone. Shawn Tully, Fortune, 9 Mar. 2022 After trading in his comfortable life for one of a buccaneer, Stede becomes captain of a pirate ship, but struggles to earn the respect of his potentially mutinous crew. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 16 Feb. 2022 Her father was a son of Sam Lord, a notorious Barbadian buccaneer who died in 1844, relatives said. Sam Roberts, New York Times, 9 Dec. 2021 In 1760, Jacques Kanon, a buccaneer, bought the estate and gave his name for luck and prosperity. Cécilia Pelloux, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2021 Don’t miss your opportunity to talk and dress like a real buccaneer as International Talk Like a Pirate Day comes but once a year. cleveland, 16 Sep. 2021 Or Joseph Duveen, the eccentric buccaneer art dealer played by Adrien Brody in the same story. Susan Morrison, The New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2021 Garrett Basch and Dan Halsted also serve as executive producers along with Taika Waititi, who will direct the pilot as well in addition to playing Blackbeard, the infamous buccaneer. Mónica Marie Zorrilla, Variety, 20 Aug. 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
French boucanier woodsman, pirate (in the 17th century West Indies), from boucaner to smoke meat, from boucan wooden frame for smoking meat, from Tupi mokaʔẽ́, mbokaʔẽ́, from mo-, mbo- causative marker + kaʔẽ to be roasted, dried
First Known Use
1686, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
buccaneer
noun
buc·ca·neer ˌbə-kə-ˈnir
: pirate
buccaneers
noun
as in pirates
someone who engages in robbery of ships at sea buccaneers preyed upon treasure-laden ships in the Caribbean for nearly three hundred years Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- pirates
- privateers
- freebooters
- corsairs
- raiders
- marauders
- robbers
- plunderers
- looters
- pillagers
- rovers
- despoilers