A sailor is someone who works or travels on a boat or ship, especially someone who makes their living at sea. Sailors might work on fishing boats, cargo ships, navy vessels, or cruise ships. They need to understand how boats work, how to navigate using maps and instruments, and how to handle all kinds of weather.

Throughout history, sailors have been essential to exploration, trade, and military power. When Christopher Columbus sailed to the Americas in 1492, his crew of sailors had to manage the sails, navigate by the stars, and keep the ship in good repair for months at sea. British sailors once protected trade routes across the world, while today's sailors might transport containers full of goods between continents or serve in their country's navy.

Being a sailor requires special skills: tying strong knots, reading weather patterns, understanding how wind and currents work, and staying calm during storms. Sailors also develop their own traditions and vocabulary. They say port instead of left and starboard instead of right. They measure speed in knots instead of miles per hour. When sailors visit distant ports, they experience different cultures and see parts of the world that most people only read about.

The word can also describe anyone who sails for recreation, like weekend sailors who take their small boats out on lakes or bays.