What does doormen mean?
"Doormen" is the plural of "doorman," referring to the uniformed attendants stationed at the entrances of hotels, apartment buildings, private clubs, and other establishments. Their duties traditionally include opening doors, greeting guests, hailing taxis, receiving packages, and keeping watch over the doorway — a blend of hospitality and informal security that makes them a familiar fixture of urban life, especially in cities like New York where the doorman is an enduring emblem of residential prestige. The word is a straightforward compound of "door" and "man," with its plural formed irregularly as "men." Beyond the classic concierge-style role, the term also extends to staff who control admission at nightclubs or events, checking IDs and managing lines. Warmly regarded yet quietly authoritative, doormen occupy a distinctive cultural niche: part servant, part sentinel, and often the first face a visitor sees.
nounThe plural of "doorman": a person, typically uniformed, employed to stand at the entrance of a building such as an apartment house, hotel, or club, to open doors, greet arrivals, and provide security and assistance.
- Plural of doorman: a uniformed attendant at the entrance of a hotel, apartment building, or club who opens doors, greets people, hails taxis, and provides security.
- By extension: entrance staff responsible for screening or admitting patrons, e.g., at a nightclub.
"The doormen of the grand hotel tipped their hats as the guests arrived."
"Two liveried doormen held the carriage doors open for the arriving guests."
"The nightclub's doormen checked identification before letting anyone inside."
"Doormen" is itself the standard plural of "doorman." It is the only accepted plural form; "doormans" is incorrect.
"Several doormen stood beneath the brass awning, ready to hail cabs."
A great doorman can remember hundreds of residents' names and faces — and in cities like New York, they're often the unofficial guardians of entire neighborhoods.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of doormen
The word "doorman" is a transparent English compound of "door" — from Old English "duru," of Germanic origin — and "man," from Old English "mann." As a compound denoting someone stationed at an entrance, it emerged in the 19th century alongside the growth of grand hotels and apartment buildings that employed uniformed entrance attendants. Its plural follows the Germanic strong-declension pattern of "man/men," making "doormen" one of many English compounds (like "firemen" and "policemen") that retain this old irregular plural.
Related word forms
How doormen is actually used
"Doormen" is exclusively the plural of "doorman" — never use it as a singular. The term carries connotations of formality, service, and often urban prestige, especially associated with luxury apartment buildings in New York City. In British usage, "doorstaff" or "door supervisor" may be used instead, particularly for security roles at pubs and clubs.
Easily confused with doormen
"Foremen" are supervisors of a work crew, while "doormen" are attendants stationed at a building's entrance; the two plurals sound nearly identical but differ in meaning.