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privateer
A privateer is distinct from a pirate in a legal and political sense. While both engage in maritime robbery, a privateer operates under a legal commission, known as a letter of marque, issued by a sovereign state. This transforms what would be an act of piracy into a legitimate act of war, allowing the crew to keep a portion of the captured loot as a reward for their service to the state.
In modern usage, the term is primarily historical, evoking the Age of Sail and colonial conflicts. It carries a connotation of state-sanctioned opportunism, where the line between naval duty and personal profit is intentionally blurred.
Meanings
Examples
The king issued a letter of marque to the captain, officially making him a privateer.
He was not a pirate but a licensed privateer acting on behalf of the crown.
The privateer captured three merchant ships in a single month.
I wonder if the crew knows their captain is actually a privateer.
The government decided to privateer the shipping lanes to disrupt enemy supply lines.
They were paid to privateer against the opposing empire during the Great War.
A privateer operates legally under a government commission.
A privateer operates legally under a government commission.
Stop acting like a common thief when you are a commissioned privateer.