Definition

Noun: A longshoreman is a worker who loads and unloads cargo from ships at a port or dock. This laborer is essential for the operation of seaports, handling goods on the waterfront.

Examples

• The longshoreman carefully operated the crane to unload the shipping containers.
• A strike by the longshoremen halted all cargo operations at the harbor.
• He worked as a longshoreman for over thirty years, moving freight from ships to the dockside warehouses.

Advanced Usage

• Collective Term: The plural "longshoremen" often refers to the workforce or labor union members in this industry.
  • The agreement was negotiated between the port authority and the longshoremen.
• Formal/Industry Context: The term is standard in maritime, logistics, and labor union contexts to specify this type of dock worker.

Variants and Related Words

• Dockworker (noun): A more general synonym for a laborer who works on docks.
• Stevedore (noun): A synonym, though it can sometimes refer specifically to a contractor or firm that employs longshoremen.
• Docker (noun): A common term for this occupation, especially in British English.
• Longshoring (noun): The industry or practice of loading and unloading ships.
  • He found a job in longshoring.

Synonyms

• Dockworker
• Stevedore
• Docker
• Loader
• Freight handler

Related Phrases

• Longshoreman's union: Refers to the labor union that represents these workers, such as the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) in the United States.
  • He is a member of the longshoreman's union.
• Longshore work: Refers to the specific tasks of loading and unloading vessels.
  • The contract covers all longshore work at the terminal.

Noun

1. a laborer who loads and unloads vessels in a port