buccaneer

/ˌbʌkəˈnɪə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · [bˌʌkənˈir] /ˌbʌkəˈnɪr/ (ame, ipa) · [bˌʌkənˈir] /ˌbə-kə-ˈnir How to pronounce buccaneer (audio)/ (ame, mw)

buccaneer — noun

  • buccaneersingular
  • buccaneersplural

1. a sailor in the old Caribbean who raided ships and coastal towns for treasure, o

1.名詞C1
釋義

a sailor in the old Caribbean who raided ships and coastal towns for treasure, often with backing from a government that was hostile to Spain.

例句

The guide said a buccaneer had buried silver coins near Port Royal.

historical scene: buried treasure near Port Royal

Spanish merchants feared buccaneers waiting near the harbour after sunset.

typical context: ships, harbour, fear of attack

同義詞
  • pirate

    broader everyday word for a sea robber in any place or period

  • privateer

    narrower; stresses formal government permission to attack enemy ships

  • corsair

    older or literary; especially linked to Mediterranean raiders

文法句型

a buccaneer + verb

a band of buccaneers

用法筆記

Usually belongs to historical writing about the Caribbean and Spanish treasure fleets. It is more specific than pirate and often suggests the colonial rivalry of the 1600s and 1700s.

常見錯誤

❌A buccaneer stole my phone on the train.
✅A thief stole my phone on the train.
💡buccaneer belongs to historical sea-raider contexts, not ordinary street crime.

2. a bold person who chases power or profit aggressively and is not too concerned a

2.名詞C2
釋義

a bold person who chases power or profit aggressively and is not too concerned about rules, especially in business or politics.

例句

Newspapers called the property developer a buccaneer after three risky takeovers.

journalistic label: call someone a buccaneer

Many voters admired Vikram as a buccaneer who challenged old party leaders.

同義詞
  • maverick

    can be positive and independent, without the dishonest edge

  • operator

    suggests a shrewd, often manipulative person working behind the scenes

  • corporate raider

    much narrower; specifically a businessperson buying companies aggressively

文法句型

a buccaneer in business/politics

用法筆記

Mainly appears in journalism or literary comment. It can praise daring energy or criticize rule-bending ambition; distinguish it from sense 1, which refers to literal sea raiders.

常見錯誤

❌The young engineer is a buccaneer because she loves rock climbing.
✅The young engineer is adventurous.
💡this sense is about aggressive success in power or business, not personal hobbies.