point man

See synonyms for point man on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. the lead soldier of an infantry patrol on combat operations.

  2. a person who serves in the forefront, as of an economic or political issue.

Origin of point man

1
An Americanism dating back to 1900–05

Words Nearby point man

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use point man in a sentence

  • The point man is responsible for going out first, surveying the land and scoping out the potential danger.

    We Need MLK’s Revolutionary Spirit | Roland S. Martin | January 20, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
  • "I'm going to be a point man," Dell confided to Forrest, on one of their trips up to the homestead.

    Wells Brothers | Andy Adams
  • As he watched, a huge man reached over one of the cars, picked up a Star point man, and lifted him behind the barricade.

    Police Your Planet | Lester del Rey
  • The gag had just come out when the Star point man jumped into view again, waving a rag over his head and yelling.

    Police Your Planet | Lester del Rey
  • The West point man was pleased, he was even more impressed, because he knew football.

    The Guarded Heights | Wadsworth Camp
  • After that point man changed but little in physical characteristics, except in size and complexity of brain.

British Dictionary definitions for point man

point man

nounmainly US
  1. military a soldier who walks at the front of an infantry patrol in combat

  2. the leader or spokesperson of a campaign or organization

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012