What does choirmen mean?
Choirmen is the plural of choirman, a noun denoting men who sing in a choir, most often adult male members of a church or cathedral choir. The term is especially associated with British ecclesiastical tradition, where cathedrals and collegiate churches have long maintained rosters of adult male singers—sometimes called lay clerks—who perform alongside boy choristers in daily services such as matins and evensong. In ordinary modern usage, especially outside Britain, speakers tend to prefer the gender-neutral phrase "choir members" over "choirmen", so the word carries a somewhat traditional, formal flavor. It derives simply from "choir" combined with "man", and its feminine equivalent is "choirwoman". For readers interested in sacred music, liturgy, or the vocabulary of cathedral life, choirmen offers a precise, historically grounded way to refer to the male singing contingent of a choir.
nounThe plural of "choirman": a man who sings in a choir, especially an adult male member of a church or cathedral choir.
- An adult male member of a church or cathedral choir.
"The cathedral's choirmen gathered in the vestry before evensong."
"The choirmen processed into the nave as the organ began the introit."
"In many English cathedrals, lay clerks serve as the professional choirmen alongside the boy choristers."
"Choirmen" is itself the plural of "choirman"; the singular is "choirman" and the feminine form is "choirwoman" (plural "choirwomen"). Gender-neutral alternatives include "choir members".
"Twelve choirmen were engaged for the Christmas festival."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of choirmen
Choirmen is formed by compounding "choir" with "men", the irregular plural of "man". The word "choir" itself entered English from Old French "quier" (later "choire"), which came from Latin "chorus", ultimately borrowed from Greek "khoros", meaning a band of dancers or singers. Related English words sharing this Greek root include "chorus", "choral", "chorister", and "choreography".
Related word forms
How choirmen is actually used
"Choirman" is chiefly used in British ecclesiastical contexts, particularly in reference to cathedrals, collegiate churches, and parish church choirs; it is relatively formal and less common in everyday American usage, where terms like "choir member" are preferred. The feminine counterpart is "choirwoman", and the gender-neutral plural is "choirpeople" or simply "choir members".
Easily confused with choirmen
A chorister is any member of a choir (often a boy or girl treble in British usage), whereas a choirman specifically denotes an adult male choir member.