What does foreman mean?
A foreman is a person placed in charge of others — most commonly a worker who supervises a crew in construction, manufacturing, mining, or another trade, directing daily tasks and acting as the link between the workforce and management. The term carries a second, quite distinct meaning: in law, the foreman (or, increasingly, foreperson) of a jury is the member chosen to lead deliberations, keep order, and announce the verdict in court. Both senses share a common idea of leadership exercised from within rather than above — the foreman typically rises from the ranks and often works alongside those he or she oversees. The word has a practical, no-nonsense connotation, associated with hands-on authority rather than executive prestige. As workplace language shifts toward gender-neutral titles, 'foreperson' is steadily replacing 'foreman', especially in official and legal contexts, but the older form remains widely used and understood across the English-speaking world.
A person who supervises and directs a team of workers, especially in industry, construction, or a trade.
"The foreman inspected each weld before the crew moved to the next section."
Often replaced today by the gender-neutral 'foreperson'.
The presiding member of a jury, responsible for leading deliberations and announcing the verdict.
"The judge asked the foreman whether the jury had reached a decision."
Standard plural; note that pluralizing as 'forepersons' is equally valid when using the gender-neutral variant.
"The plant employs six foremen, one for each production line."
When a jury delivers its verdict, one word decides how it's spoken: the foreman's.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of foreman
Foreman comes from the Old English prefix 'fore-', meaning 'before' or 'in front', attached to 'man'; it literally denotes the man at the front or head of a group. The compound belongs to a family of English formations using 'fore-' to signal precedence, alongside foremost, foresee, and forefather. The word was in use by the medieval and early modern period for leaders of work gangs, and its jury sense developed as English common-law procedure settled into its modern shape, with jurors choosing one of their number to speak for them.
How foreman is actually used
In modern usage the title is often gender-neutralized as 'foreperson', particularly in legal contexts such as 'foreperson of the jury'. The word is neutral to slightly working-class in connotation and is most at home in industrial, construction, and legal registers; 'supervisor' or 'manager' is preferred in office settings.
Easily confused with foreman
A doorman attends an entrance to a building or hotel, whereas a foreman supervises workers or leads a jury.