What does penmen mean?
Penmen is the plural of penman, a term that may refer to skilled writers, authors, copyists, or professional letter-writers. Historically, a penman was often someone employed to draft letters and documents for another person, before efficient mechanical writing made such a role less common. The word can also have the broader literary sense of an accomplished writer or contributor to a publication. Although it survives in formal and historical writing, everyday speakers normally use writer, author, scribe, or copyist instead. Penmen is consequently useful chiefly when discussing older texts, offices, and professional writing practices, where it conveys both competence in handwriting and a recognizable occupational role. Its sound also reflects the compound formation common in English: pen plus man originally denoted a man associated with writing.
plural nounThe plural form of penman, denoting writers, authors, copyists, or secretaries skilled in writing.
- People who write with skill, especially professional writers, copyists, or authors.
- People employed to write letters, records, or other documents on behalf of others.
"The archive employed several penmen to copy the historical records."
"Several accomplished penmen contributed essays to the periodical."
"The colonial office depended on penmen to prepare letters and maintain its records."
Penmen is already the regular plural of penman.
"The museum consulted several penmen who had copied the manuscript."
Before typing became commonplace, a person who could write beautifully was already a distinctive professional called a penman.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does penmen come from?
Penman was formed in English from pen and man during the 16th century, originally denoting a secretary, scribe, or professional writer. Its meaning later extended to an author or anyone judged skilled in writing. The plural penmen follows the regular English change from -man to -men, while penmanship developed from the same compound elements.
Related word forms
How penmen is actually used
The word is now uncommon and chiefly literary or historical. In older usage it could refer specifically to a secretary or copyist as well as to an author or skilled writer.
Easily confused with penmen
Penman is the singular form, while penmen is its plural.