purser

noun

purs·​er ˈpər-sər How to pronounce purser (audio)
1
: an official on a ship responsible for papers and accounts and on a passenger ship also for the comfort and welfare of passengers
2
: a steward on an airliner

Examples of purser 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.
Perl recommends that people keen on a larger room go to the purser’s office and inquire if there have been any cancellations or no-shows. Bailey Berg, AFAR Media, 21 Jan. 2025 The two flight attendants taking care of me—one of whom was the purser on this flight—offered polished and attentive service without being over-the-top. Matt Ortile, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Oct. 2023 The ceremony was officiated by the airline’s openly-gay chief purser Rodrigue Chan in the airline’s Poerava business class cabin. Alison Fox, Travel + Leisure, 5 June 2023 The show had a cast of amiable shipboard archetypes: Bernie Kopell played the semi-Lothario doctor; future congressman Fred Grandy was the eager young purser; Ted Lange was the cool bartender; Lauren Tewes was the pert cruise director; and Jill Whelan played the captain’s cute-as-a-button daughter. Washington Post, 29 May 2021 See all Example Sentences for purser 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from purs purse

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of purser was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near purser

Cite this Entry

“Purser.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/purser. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

purser

noun
purs·​er ˈpər-sər How to pronounce purser (audio)
: an official on a ship who keeps accounts and attends to passengers

More from Merriam-Webster on purser

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