What does repairman mean?
A repairman is a person who works to mend, fix, or maintain objects, machines, equipment, or buildings. The word is commonly used for someone called to repair household appliances, industrial machinery, plumbing systems, electrical equipment, or other installations. It is also used more broadly for a person whose occupation involves maintenance and troubleshooting. The term is still widely understood and used in both British and American English, although “repairperson” and “repair technician” can be preferred when a gender-neutral label is desired. In conversation, the expression “call a repairman” refers to seeking practical help with a broken object or system. Historically, the word combines “repair,” meaning to mend or restore, with the occupational suffix “-man,” reflecting a long-standing English pattern of forming job names by adding this element.
nounA person whose occupation is to repair or maintain machinery, equipment, buildings, or other objects.
- A person who repairs or maintains machinery, equipment, buildings, or other objects.
"We called a repairman to fix the broken heating system."
"The repairman arrived with the parts needed to restore the washing machine."
"She trained as a repairman before opening her own electrical business."
The traditional plural is “repairmen.”
"The repairmen returned the following morning to finish the installation."
A repairman is the person who turns a broken object back into a working one.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does repairman come from?
“Repairman” is a compound formed in English from “repair” and the occupational suffix “-man.” “Repair” entered English from Old French “reparer,” meaning to mend or restore, ultimately deriving from Latin “reparare,” formed from the prefix “re-” and “parare,” meaning to prepare or arrange. Several English words sharing this Latin root include “prepare,” “reparable,” “reparation,” and “reparative.” The compound noun developed as a general label for a worker engaged in fixing or maintaining things.
Related word forms
How repairman is actually used
“Repairman” is a standard occupational term in British and American English. In contexts where a gender-neutral designation is preferred, “repairperson” or “repair technician” may be used.