privateers

Noun

privateer (plural privateers)

1. (historical) A privately owned warship that acted under a letter of marque to attack enemy merchant ships and take possession of their cargo.
2. (historical) An officer or any other member of the crew of such a ship; a government-sanctioned pirate.
   • Kidd soon threw off the character of a privateer and became a pirate.1849–1861, Thomas Babington Macaulay, chapter XXV, in The History of England from the Accession of James the Second, volume (please specify |volume=I to V), London: Longman, Brown, Green, and...
3. An advocate or beneficiary of privatization of a government service or activity.
   • This is a major victory, not only for CUPW because it will deter profit-hungry privateers from taking work away from CUPW members, but also because it gives union protection to those employed by the privateers.1985, British Columbia. Forensic Psychiatric Services Commission, Summary of Proceedings, page 421
4. (Australia, Canada, US) A private individual entrant into a race or competition who does not have the backing of a large, professional team.
5. (elite championships) A racing team that is not a subsidiary of a large conglomerate, or automotive or vehicle manufacturer.

See all 7 meanings of privateer