noun

strongman

Strongman (noun) means a person, especially a performer, known for feats of physical strength. Example: “The circus strongman lifted the car above his head to gasps from the crowd.”

noun

A person, especially a performer, known for feats of physical strength.

"The circus strongman lifted the car above his head to gasps from the crowd."

A ruler or leader who governs with force and little regard for democratic process.

"The country had been ruled by a military strongman for two decades."

How to use strongman

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither a person famous for physical strength, or an authoritarian ruler who leads through force.

Common pairings

circus strongman political strongman

Word forms

strongmen plural

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The circus _____ lifted the car above his head to gasps from the crowd.

Etymology

A compound of strong and man.

Frequently asked questions

What does “strongman” mean?

The word “strongman” means a person, especially a performer, known for feats of physical strength. In plain terms, either a person famous for physical strength, or an authoritarian ruler who leads through force.

How do you use “strongman” in a sentence?

Here is “strongman” used in a sentence: “The circus strongman lifted the car above his head to gasps from the crowd.”

What part of speech is “strongman”?

“Strongman” is a noun.

How many meanings does “strongman” have?

“Strongman” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a person, especially a performer, known for feats of physical strength.