What does choirman mean?
A choirman is a man or boy who sings as a member of a choir, particularly in church, cathedral, or other formal choral settings. The term pairs the noun 'choir' — an organized group of singers — with the traditional '-man' suffix, and its plural is 'choirmen'. While the word can apply to singers in any choral ensemble, it carries a somewhat traditional, ecclesiastical flavor: it evokes robed figures in cathedral stalls, parish church services, and centuries-old traditions of sacred music. In contemporary usage, many choirs prefer gender-neutral terms such as 'chorister' or simply 'singer', so 'choirman' tends to appear most often in contexts describing historic institutions or all-male choirs. It derives ultimately from the Greek 'khoros', meaning a band of dancers or singers, which passed into Latin as 'chorus' and then through Old French into English as 'choir', making the word part of a long lineage of musical vocabulary that also includes 'choral', 'chorus', and 'chorister'.
nounA man or boy who sings in a choir; a male member of a choral group.
- A male member of a choir, especially in a church or cathedral setting.
"The choirman had sung bass in the cathedral choir for over twenty years."
"The elderly choirman still arrived early every Sunday to warm up his voice before the service."
"As the youngest choirman in the ensemble, he was given the solo verse at Christmas."
Standard irregular plural formed by changing '-man' to '-men'.
"The twelve choirmen processed down the nave as the anthem began."
The word 'choir' comes from the Greek 'khoros', the circle where ancient Greeks danced and sang — so every choirman stands in a tradition over two thousand years old.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of choirman
Choirman combines 'choir' with the agentive suffix '-man'. The word 'choir' entered English from Old French 'quier', itself from Latin 'chorus', which was borrowed from Greek 'khoros', denoting a company of dancers or singers in ancient Greece. The compound formation parallels other English '-man' occupational and role nouns such as 'churchman' and 'clergyman', and it developed alongside related terms like 'chorister' to distinguish male singers within choral tradition.
Related word forms
How choirman is actually used
The term is somewhat traditional and is used most often in church and cathedral contexts; in secular or mixed choirs, neutral terms like 'singer' or 'chorister' are now more common. The plural is 'choirmen'.
Easily confused with choirman
A chorister is any member of a choir regardless of gender, while a choirman specifically denotes a male member.