(historical) A privately owned warship that had official sanction to attack enemy ships and take possession of their cargo.

To function under official sanction permitting attacks on enemy shipping and seizing ship and cargo; to engage in government-sponsored piracy.

plural of privateer

Third-person singular simple present indicative form of privateer

simple past tense and past participle of privateer

present participle of privateer

The operations of a privateer, attacking and looting enemy ships under the auspices of one's own government.

plural of privateering

Belonging to, concerning, or accessible only to an individual person or a specific group. / Not accessible by the public. / Not in governmental office or employment.

A soldier of the lowest rank in the army. / A doctor working in privately rather than publicly funded health care. / (euphemistic, in the plural) The genitals.