merchant marine
noun/ˌmɜːtʃənt məˈriːn/
/ˌmɜːrtʃənt məˈriːn/
(North American English) (British English merchant navy)
[countable + singular or plural verb]- a country's commercial ships and the people who work on them
- The merchant marine is/are vital to both our economy and our national security.
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merchant marine