noun
Common
Sherman
SHUR-muhn
Sherman (noun) means the Sherman tank, the main American and Allied battle tank of World War II. Example: “Rows of Sherman tanks rolled through the town after the liberation.”
noun
1
The Sherman tank, the main American and Allied battle tank of World War II.
"Rows of Sherman tanks rolled through the town after the liberation."
How to use Sherman
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBest known today as the name of a famous WWII-era American tank.
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Word forms
- Plural
- Shermans
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Rows of _____ tanks rolled through the town after the liberation.
Etymology
As a surname, from Middle English schereman ("shear-man"), an occupational name for someone who sheared cloth or sheep. The tank was named after US Civil War general William Tecumseh Sherman.
Rhymes for Sherman
German
merman
Herman
Berman
superman
peterman
alderman
waterman
Ackerman
Huberman
elderman
fisherman
See all rhymes for Sherman →
Frequently asked questions
What does “Sherman” mean?
The word “Sherman” means the Sherman tank, the main American and Allied battle tank of World War II. In plain terms, best known today as the name of a famous WWII-era American tank.
How do you pronounce “Sherman”?
“Sherman” is pronounced SHUR-muhn (/ˈʃɜː(ɹ)mən/ in IPA).
How do you use “Sherman” in a sentence?
Here is “Sherman” used in a sentence: “Rows of Sherman tanks rolled through the town after the liberation.”
What part of speech is “Sherman”?
“Sherman” is a noun.
Where does the word “Sherman” come from?
The word “Sherman” comes from Middle English. As a surname, from Middle English schereman ("shear-man"), an occupational name for someone who sheared cloth or sheep. The tank was named after US Civil War general William Tecumseh Sherman.
Is “Sherman” a common word?
“Sherman” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is a Sherman tank used for historically?
The Sherman was the main battle tank used by the American and Allied forces during World War II. It was produced in large numbers and served as the standard medium tank across multiple theaters of the war.
Is "Sherman" always capitalized when referring to the tank?
Yes, since it derives from a proper name, "Sherman" is capitalized whether referring to the tank or the person the tank was named after. It functions as a proper noun even when used generically to describe the tank model.
Was the Sherman tank used only by the United States?
No, the Sherman tank was used by both American forces and their Allies during World War II, making it a shared standard battle tank rather than an exclusively American vehicle.
