1. a pirate, especially one operating in the Mediterranean Sea
Usage: historical
2. a fast warship
Usage: nautical; historical

Examples

• The corsair attacked merchant ships along the coast.
• Barbary corsairs terrorized Mediterranean trade routes for centuries.
• The novel featured a daring corsair captain seeking treasure.
• Historical records describe corsairs as both pirates and naval warriors.
• The corsair’s ship was known for its speed and maneuverability.
• Many corsairs operated under government licenses called letters of marque.