Controversial Mihawk has never felt like a Pirate.

[Dettles]

Even from his introduction He has never felt like a Pirate. The Warlords were supposed to be pirates paid by the World Government and were allowed to plunder other pirates and unallied kingdoms. But Mihawk was fundamentally different. We never seemed like he was ever a Pirate more like a Swordsman who sailed the seas.

 

[Chiji_]

I never looked at him like one, like you said just a wandering swordsman. But at the end of the day a pirate is just an outlaw that sails around pretty much so he does count.

 

[Zenos7]

he probably was only ever considered a pirate by the WG because of his marine hunting

 

[Salah WG]

Pirate = Sea Criminal.
Mihawk is a Pirate, it's not rocket science.

 

[Blazing Lion]

If you hunt Marines and you are spending your life on the sea, you are probably a pirate.