# corsair

/ˈkɔɹsɛɹ/ (US) · /kˈɔːseə/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/corsair
Updated: 2026-05-20

## Definition

a pirate who sails the sea to attack ships and steal their goods. This word is often used to describe pirates from the Mediterranean in the past.

For teachers: a privateer or pirate who operates from a coastal base, typically in the Mediterranean, to conduct raids on merchant vessels. Often used historically to describe the Barbary corsairs.

## Examples

- The corsair captured several ships during the summer raids.
- Historians study the tactics of the corsair to understand how Mediterranean piracy threatened European trade routes in the sixteenth century.
- The corsair's fleet was a significant threat to the safety of the coastal towns, forcing local governments to pay heavy tributes to avoid further attacks.

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