sloop

noun

ˈslüp How to pronounce sloop (audio)
Synonyms of sloopnext
: a fore-and-aft rigged boat with one mast and a single jib

Illustration of sloop

Illustration of sloop

Examples of sloop 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.
Sailing aboard a 30-foot sloop on Acapulco Bay, Henry Kissinger kept a protective arm around his new wife, as a motorboat filled with the press corps followed. — Robert D. McFadden, Chicago Tribune, 21 Aug. 2026 The fleet will feature around 30 Class A tall ships, some ranging from 340 to 371 feet in length, with numerous Class B vessels, including sloops and schooners, also participating. — Peter Suciu, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026 All those little unofficial participants, the sloops and ketches that will join the festivities, will be restricted to nine holding areas. — Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 30 June 2026 Commodore Matthew Perry forcibly entered Edo (Tokyo) Bay, Japan, with a squadron of two steam warships and two sailing sloops. — USA Today, 24 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for sloop

Word History

Etymology

Dutch sloep

First Known Use

1629, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sloop was in 1629

Phrases Containing sloop

Rhymes for sloop

See All Rhymes for sloop

Browse Nearby Words

sloomy
sloop
sloopman
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sloop.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sloop. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

sloop

noun
ˈslüp How to pronounce sloop (audio)
: a sailboat with one mast and a fore-and-aft mainsail and jib

More from Merriam-Webster on sloop

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for sloop

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sloop

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