seaman
n. countablen. a person who works on a ship, especially someone who is not an officer. You use this word to describe a professional sailor.
n. a person who works on a ship at sea, particularly a sailor below the rank of officer. Often used in naval or merchant contexts to specify a professional role.
The young seaman spent his first month learning how to tie knots.
After years of training, he finally earned his qualification as an able-bodied seaman on a commercial vessel.
The captain commended every seaman on deck for their bravery during the storm, noting that their collective discipline prevented the cargo from shifting.
The plural form is 'seamen'. While traditionally masculine, it is often replaced by 'seafarer' or 'sailor' in modern gender-neutral contexts.