noun
Common
batman
BAT-muhn
Batman (noun) means Historically, a soldier assigned as a personal servant or aide to a military officer. Example: “In the old film, the major's batman brought him tea each morning.”
noun
1
Historically, a soldier assigned as a personal servant or aide to a military officer.
"“Private McLean,” he called to his batman who, for one-and-six a week, cared for his belongings, “tak' chairge o' the dog, wull ye, an' fetch 'im to the non-com mess when ye come to put ma kit i' gude order.”"
— Eleanor Atkinson, Greyfriars Bobby (1912)
"In the old film, the major's batman brought him tea each morning."
"Being a batman meant cleaning an officer's kit and running his errands."
"The colonel's batman kept his uniform pressed and his boots polished."
name
1
A fictional superhero, the alter ego of billionaire Bruce Wayne, who fights crime in Gotham City using gadgets, stealth, and a bat-themed costume.
"The kids dressed up as Batman for the party."
How to use batman
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither an officer's personal attendant, or the DC Comics superhero.
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like batman.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- batmen, batmans
- Third person singular
- batmans
- Past tense
- batmanned
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
In the old film, the major's _____ brought him tea each morning.
Etymology
The military-servant sense comes from "bat" (a packsaddle, from French bât) + man; the comic-book character's name plays on the animal instead.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for batman
See all rhymes for batman →Frequently asked questions
What does “batman” mean?
The word “batman” means historically, a soldier assigned as a personal servant or aide to a military officer. In plain terms, either an officer's personal attendant, or the DC Comics superhero.
How do you pronounce “batman”?
“Batman” is pronounced BAT-muhn (/ˈbæt.mən/ in IPA).
How do you use “batman” in a sentence?
Here is “batman” used in a sentence: “The colonel's batman kept his uniform pressed and his boots polished.”
What is another word for “batman”?
Words with a similar meaning to “batman” include man and maund.
What part of speech is “batman”?
Depending on how it is used, “batman” can be a noun and a name.
Where does the word “batman” come from?
The word “batman” comes from French. The military-servant sense comes from "bat" (a packsaddle, from French bât) + man; the comic-book character's name plays on the animal instead.
Is “batman” a common word?
“Batman” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “batman” have?
“Batman” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: historically, a soldier assigned as a personal servant or aide to a military officer.
What is the difference between a military "batman" and Batman the superhero?
A military batman was historically a soldier assigned as a personal servant or aide to an officer, a role associated mainly with the British and Commonwealth armies. Batman the superhero is a fictional character, the alter ego of Bruce Wayne. The two share only the spelling.
Is "batman" capitalized?
When it refers to the fictional superhero, "Batman" is capitalized as a proper name. The historical military role, "batman," is a common noun and is written in lowercase.
What did a batman do in the army?
A batman served as an officer's personal attendant, handling duties such as caring for equipment, uniforms, and daily needs. The role was common in the British and Commonwealth armed forces in earlier periods.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include batman:
