businessman
BIHZ-nuhs-muhn
Businessman (noun) means a man who works in or owns a commercial business, especially at a senior level. Example: “The local businessman donated new equipment to the village school.”
noun
1
A man who works in or owns a commercial business, especially at a senior level.
"The local businessman donated new equipment to the village school."
"A businessman in a grey suit hurried onto the train."
"BERTIE Ahern's explanation that he received an envelope stuffed with £8,000 in cash following a whip-around by a group of Manchester-based businessmen was branded untrue by the Mahon Tribunal."
— Colm Kelpie, Claim of 'whip-around' by friends rubbished (2012)
"Needless to say the obituaries for Hefner, even if they acknowledge the seaminess, have been full of encomia for his great deeds: Hef the vanquisher of puritanism, Hef the political progressive, Hef the great businessman and all the rest."
— Ross Douthat, Speaking Ill of Hugh Hefner (2017)
"Her father was a successful businessman who owned three factories."
"I'm not a businessman, I'm a business, man"
— “Diamonds From Sierra Leone (Remix)”, Diamonds From Sierra Leone (Remix) (2005)
How to use businessman
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA man whose job is running or working in commerce.
Common pairings
a shrewd businessman
local businessman
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Word forms
- Plural
- businessmen
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The local _____ donated new equipment to the village school.
Etymology
From business plus man; it replaced the older word merchant in everyday use.
Related words
Rhymes for businessman
See all rhymes for businessman →Frequently asked questions
What does “businessman” mean?
The word “businessman” means a man who works in or owns a commercial business, especially at a senior level. In plain terms, a man whose job is running or working in commerce.
How do you pronounce “businessman”?
“Businessman” is pronounced BIHZ-nuhs-muhn (/ˈbɪznəsmæn/ in IPA).
How do you use “businessman” in a sentence?
Here is “businessman” used in a sentence: “Her father was a successful businessman who owned three factories.”
What part of speech is “businessman”?
“Businessman” is a noun.
Is “businessman” a common word?
“Businessman” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
What is the difference between a businessman and an entrepreneur?
A businessman is broadly anyone who works in or runs a commercial business, often at a senior level. An entrepreneur specifically starts new ventures and takes on financial risk to build them, so all entrepreneurs are businesspeople but not every businessman is an entrepreneur.
What is the gender-neutral alternative to businessman?
The common gender-neutral terms are 'businessperson' and 'businesspeople' (plural). 'Executive', 'professional', or simply 'business owner' are also widely used when you do not want to specify gender.
What is the difference between a businessman and a businesswoman?
The only difference is gender: a businessman is a man and a businesswoman is a woman who works in or owns a business. Both usually refer to someone operating at a senior or professional level in commerce.
Is businessman written as one word or two?
Businessman is written as a single word, not 'business man'. The same applies to the related forms businesswoman, businessperson, and businesspeople.
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