the master of a household; husband.
(initial capital letter) a title of respect used for a man below the rank of gentleman, especially a farmer or yeoman.
a husband
a man not of gentle birth: used as a title
a master of a household
Middle English word dating back to 1125–75; see origin at good, -man
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Both Manuel Quezon and goodman Osme�a were mum last week.
From Time Magazine Archive
One evening the goodman came home, at a late hour, full of wonderment.
From Popular Rhymes and Nursery Tales A Sequel to the Nursery Rhymes of England by Halliwell-Phillipps, J. O. (James Orchard)
The wyfe of the house runnes out with her goodman to intreat the Counstable for her gestes, and leaues the Pyg at the fyre alone.
From The Rogues and Vagabonds of Shakespeare's Youth Awdeley's 'Fraternitye of vacabondes' and Harman's 'Caveat' by Awdeley, John
The price of wheat, goodman Dickon?—how fatten your pigs?—will the fine weather last, think you?
From Judith Shakespeare Her love affairs and other adventures by Black, William
As the clocks tolled one, there was a sound of rapid wheels along the road and a coach stopped before goodman Blossom's.
From A Maid of Many Moods by Sheard, Virna
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
