VocabularyBasePractice words

Meaning & use

helmsman

noun·Advanced

Last updated

UK/ˈhelmzmən/
US/ˈhelmzmən/

Meanings

  1. nouncountable

    The person who steers a boat or ship by holding its wheel or tiller.

    Grammar: Usually a countable noun: the helmsman held the course.

    Patterns

    • the helmsman of something

    The helmsman kept the yacht steady as the waves grew higher.

    A skilled helmsman can feel the wind change before the sails show it.

    The captain shouted new orders, and the helmsman turned the wheel hard to port.

  2. nouncountablefigurativeliterary

    A person who guides an organization or country through a difficult period.

    Grammar: Used figuratively, often about leaders: the helmsman of the company.

    Patterns

    • the helmsman of something

    The new chairman is seen as a steady helmsman during the crisis.

    Critics called him a weak helmsman who let the party drift.

Word forms

pluralhelmsmen

Common combinations

an experienced helmsman
An experienced helmsman steered us through the narrow channel.
the helmsman steers
The helmsman steers by compass when the coast disappears in fog.
take over as helmsman
My sister took over as helmsman for the final leg of the race.
a steady helmsman
The company needed a steady helmsman after the scandal.
helmsman and crew
The helmsman and crew trained together for months.

Synonyms and how they differ

steersman
Steersman is an older, rarer word for the same job and sounds more literary than helmsman.
pilot
A pilot guides ships through difficult waters such as harbors, usually joining from outside, while a helmsman is part of the ship's own crew.
skipper
A skipper is in command of a small boat or team, whereas a helmsman only steers.
captain
A captain has overall command of the vessel, while the helmsman carries out the steering.

Word family

helm noun
the wheel or tiller used for steering, or a position of control
helmswoman noun
a woman who steers a ship
helm verb
to steer a boat or lead an organization
helmsmanship noun
skill in steering a boat

Commonly confused: helmsman or helmet?

helmsman vs helmet

A helmet is a hard hat worn to protect the head; it is not related to steering, although the spelling looks similar.

Practice

During the storm, the ___ held the ship on course while the crew reefed the sails.

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “helmsman”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Your sentence stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.

Explore more words