noun
walkman
Walkman (noun) means a portable cassette player with headphones, originally a Sony brand that became a generic term. Example: “He still owns his old Walkman from the 1980s.”
noun
1
A portable cassette player with headphones, originally a Sony brand that became a generic term.
"Because I can't stand looking at that inexplicable Walkman anymore. You're carrying around a brick playing a cassette tape. We're not savages—so I'm gonna put a thousand songs in your pocket."
— Aaron Sorkin, Walter Isaacson (2015)
"He still owns his old Walkman from the 1980s."
How to use walkman
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA classic portable music player from before smartphones and MP3 players.
Common mistake
Technically still a trademark, so some style guides prefer "portable cassette player" in formal writing.
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like walkman.
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
- walkmans, walkmen
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He still owns his old _____ from the 1980s.
Etymology
Originally a trademark of Sony, launched in 1979, that became so popular the name was used generically for any portable cassette player.
Frequently asked questions
What does “walkman” mean?
The word “walkman” means a portable cassette player with headphones, originally a Sony brand that became a generic term. In plain terms, a classic portable music player from before smartphones and MP3 players.
How do you use “walkman” in a sentence?
Here is “walkman” used in a sentence: “He still owns his old Walkman from the 1980s.”
What part of speech is “walkman”?
“Walkman” is a noun.
Where does the word “walkman” come from?
The word “walkman” dates back to around 1979. Originally a trademark of Sony, launched in 1979, that became so popular the name was used generically for any portable cassette player.
