What does anchorman mean?
An anchorman is the principal presenter of a television or radio news program — the person who sits at the center of the broadcast desk, introduces reports, interviews correspondents, and provides continuity throughout the newscast. The term carries connotations of authority, reliability, and experience, evoking figures such as Walter Cronkite, who embodied the role during American network news's golden age. A second, older sense refers to the final and often strongest runner in a relay team, the one who finishes the race. The word is formed from 'anchor' — meaning something that holds firm — combined with 'man.' Because the role was historically held by men, the rise of prominent female journalists in the 1970s prompted the creation of 'anchorwoman,' and most broadcasters now favor the neutral terms 'anchor' or 'news anchor.' As a result, 'anchorman' today can sound slightly old-fashioned or deliberately nostalgic.
The chief presenter or coordinating reporter of a television or radio news program.
"The network hired a respected anchorman to restore trust in its flagship evening broadcast."
Often replaced today by the gender-neutral 'anchor' or 'news anchor.'
The last runner in a relay race, typically the team's fastest or steadiest competitor.
"Their anchorman surged ahead in the final stretch to clinch the championship."
An established sense in athletics, though less frequently encountered than the broadcasting sense.
The plural follows the irregular pattern for compounds ending in '-man,' changing the final element to '-men.'
"The two anchormen traded banter between commercial breaks during the election-night special."
The word 'anchorman' was popularized by Walter Cronkite's role at CBS — and when women took on the same job in the 1970s, 'anchorwoman' and eventually gender-neutral 'anchor' were born.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of anchorman
Anchorman derives from 'anchor,' which entered English from Old French and ultimately from Latin 'ancora,' itself borrowed from Greek 'ankōra' ('a hook or anchor'). The compound 'anchorman' emerged in English around the late nineteenth century, first used in sporting contexts for the last runner in a relay race before being extended to broadcasting by the mid-twentieth century. Its figurative logic is transparent: like a ship's anchor, the anchorman holds the program steady. Related words sharing the Latin root include 'anchorage,' 'anchorite,' and 'anchorless.'
Related word forms
How anchorman is actually used
Traditionally used for men; as women increasingly filled the role from the 1970s onward, 'anchorwoman' arose, and today the gender-neutral terms 'anchor' or 'news anchor' are generally preferred. The compound retains a slightly dated or formal flavor. The relay-race sense is now less common but still standard in athletics commentary.
Easily confused with anchorman
An 'anchor' is the general term for the person who leads a news broadcast (or the heavy metal object that holds ships in place), while 'anchorman' is the older compound form specifically denoting a man in that role.
An 'announcer' simply reads announcements or introduces segments, whereas an 'anchorman' is the central figure who coordinates and presents an entire news program.