noun
tradesman
noun
1
A person skilled in a manual craft or trade, such as a plumber, electrician, or carpenter.
"They called in a tradesman to fix the leaking pipe."
"She trained as a tradesman before starting her own building firm."
2
A shopkeeper or merchant who runs a trade or business.
"The tradesman kept his shop open late on Fridays."
How to Use Tradesman
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomeone who works with their hands in a skilled trade, or someone who runs a shop.
When to use it
Traditionally used for men; increasingly people prefer "tradesperson" or "tradie" (informal, chiefly Australian/British) as gender-neutral options.
Common pairings
a skilled tradesman
call a tradesman
local tradesman
Word Forms
tradesmen plural
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They called in a _____ to fix the leaking pipe.
Etymology
From trade + the suffix -s-man, following the same pattern as "craftsman" or "workman."