What does bridesman mean?
A bridesman is a man who serves as an attendant to a bride at her wedding, fulfilling duties traditionally assigned to a bridesmaid. The role typically involves supporting the bride before and during the ceremony — helping with preparations, standing with her during the service, and sometimes joining processional arrangements. Historically attested in English since at least the seventeenth century, the word has enjoyed renewed attention in recent decades as weddings have become more flexible about gender roles: when a bride's closest friends include men, those men may serve as bridesmen rather than being placed on the groom's side as groomsmen. The plural is bridesmen. While the term remains less common than bridesmaid or groomsman, it is well established, clearly understood, and carries a warm, celebratory connotation. It is a useful word for describing modern wedding parties that reflect genuine friendships rather than conventional gender divisions.
nounA man who attends and supports a bride at her wedding, serving as the male counterpart to a bridesmaid; he may assist the bride before and during the ceremony.
- A man chosen by a bride to attend and support her at her wedding, the male counterpart of a bridesmaid.
"Her brother served as her bridesman, walking beside her down the aisle."
"When her closest friend was a man, she asked him to be her bridesman instead of a groomsman."
"The bride's brother stood proudly among the bridal party as her bridesman."
Regular plural formed by replacing -man with -men; used when referring to more than one such attendant.
"Both of her brothers stood as bridesmen at the ceremony."
Before 'bridesman' became a gender-inclusive modern choice, the word was already in use centuries ago — history got there first.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of bridesman
Bridesman is a straightforward English compound formed from 'bride' plus 'man', parallel to older formations such as 'bridesmaid' and the archaic 'bridegroom'. The word has been used in English since roughly the seventeenth century, though it long remained far rarer than its female counterpart. In recent decades it has been revived and repurposed in the context of gender-inclusive wedding parties, giving an old word a fresh modern life.
Related word forms
How bridesman is actually used
Relatively uncommon and slightly formal in register; its use has grown alongside gender-inclusive wedding practices, where a bride may choose men for her side of the bridal party.
Easily confused with bridesman
A bridesmaid is a female attendant of the bride, while a bridesman is the male equivalent performing the same role.