What does workman mean?
Workman is a traditional noun for a man employed to do work, particularly manual or skilled work. In older contexts, it can also mean a craftsman or artisan, emphasizing the skill and practical trade involved in a person's occupation. Modern speakers usually prefer worker because it is more general, more neutral, and less suggestive of a particular social role or era. Nevertheless, workman remains useful when a context calls attention to manual labour, craftsmanship, or a historical setting. Its plural, workmen, can sound especially old-fashioned, but it is still standard. The word also occurs in established expressions such as workman's compensation, where it appears in the possessive form. Overall, workman combines a clear occupational meaning with a mildly formal and historical tone, making it more distinctive than the broad modern alternative worker.
nounA man employed to perform work, especially manual or skilled work. Historically, the term also referred to a craftsman or artisan.
- A man employed to perform work, especially manual or skilled work.
- A craftsman or artisan, especially in historical or traditional usage.
"A skilled workman repaired the old wooden door."
"The workman inspected the damaged section of the wall."
"Each workman carried his own tools to the site."
Standard plural form; it can sound especially old-fashioned or historical, though it remains grammatically standard.
"The workmen arrived early to begin the construction."
Workman is a compact language lesson: two Germanic words, work and man, have formed this term since the late Middle Ages.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does workman come from?
Workman was formed in late Middle English from the Germanic elements work and man. Work derives from Old English weorc, while man derives from Old English mann. The compound was originally used for a person who worked, especially one who worked with his hands, and its meaning later extended to encompass craftspeople and other skilled workers.
Related word forms
How workman is actually used
Workman is traditional and somewhat dated in modern British and American English. It can suggest manual labour, skilled trades, or craftsmanship, while worker is more general and neutral.
Easily confused with workman
Workman is the more traditional term and often suggests manual or skilled work, whereas worker is broader and more neutral.
A workman may be any employed manual worker, while a craftsman is specifically a skilled worker who makes or repairs things by hand.