shipbuilder

1 of 2

noun (1)

ship·​build·​er ˈship-ˌbil-dər How to pronounce shipbuilder (audio)
: one who designs or constructs ships
shipbuilding
ˈship-ˌbil-diŋ How to pronounce shipbuilder (audio)
noun

shipbuilding

2 of 2

noun (2)

: the occupation or business of constructing ships

Examples of shipbuilder in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
When fully operational, SAIL is expected to support close to 400 shipbuilders and will also include support for welding, advanced technology work and additional innovations. — P.r. Lockhart, Hartford Courant, 23 Aug. 2026 And when the additional skilled labor does not exist, Persona’s robots could be the next-best option for shipbuilders who need to scale. — Evan Ackerman, IEEE Spectrum, 17 Aug. 2026 The memo also directs Hegseth to establish a fifth Naval shipyard and to allow foreign shipbuilders to build American warships. — Emily Chang, ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026 Before introducing the systems, the shipbuilder verified that the equipment meets existing US Navy fabrication standards. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 5 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for shipbuilder

Word History

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1659, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of shipbuilder was in 1659

Rhymes for shipbuilder

See All Rhymes for shipbuilder

Browse Nearby Words

ship broker
shipbuilder
shipbuilding
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Cite this Entry

“Shipbuilder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shipbuilder. Accessed 30 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

shipbuilder

noun
ship·​build·​er -ˌbil-dər How to pronounce shipbuilder (audio)
: one who designs or builds ships
shipbuilding
-diŋ How to pronounce shipbuilder (audio)
noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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