serviceman

[ sur-vis-man, -muhn ]

noun

, plural serv·ice·men [sur, -vis-men, -m, uh, n].

1. a member of the armed forces of a country.
2. a person whose occupation is to maintain or repair equipment:

   a television serviceman.

serviceman

/ ˈsɜːvɪsˌmæn; -mən /

noun

1. Also called (feminine)servicewoman a person who serves in the armed services of a country
2. a man employed to service and maintain equipment

Gender Note

See -man.

Word History and Origins

Origin of serviceman¹

First recorded in 1920–25; service ¹ + man

Example Sentences

Among other things, a “Dear John” issued servicemen a rare license to emote.

From Time

While the brass still tended to regard “nervousness” in combat as an unacceptable manifestation of weakness, officers often extended a pass to servicemen who responded to romantic loss with tears, depression, rage or violence.

From Time

A vivacious and attractive blonde, Mary had no shortage of male admirers, and at the age of 19 she married a former serviceman.

From The Daily Beast

Twelve years ago, Connie Gruber received news that every wife of an armed serviceman dreads.

From The Daily Beast

To his left, in the gloaming, was a man staring straight at the crowd like a secret serviceman looking for assassins.

From The Daily Beast

The top of my head lifted from its moorings and shifted just enough for me to name that infernal serviceman and all his issue.

From Project Gutenberg

The serviceman had come out and collected it, clucking in dismay at the mess the extinguisher had left.

From Project Gutenberg

He flipped off the switch impatiently, and looked at the young Secret Serviceman with wondering eyes.

From Project Gutenberg

It came over—I thought he had the radio in the car, Secret Serviceman, and he had talked to someone.

From Project Gutenberg

How did the serviceman view his condition, how did he convey his desire for redress, and what was his reaction to social change?

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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• fighter
• guard
• guerrilla
• marine
• mercenary
• officer
• paratrooper
• pilot
• trooper
• veteran
• volunteer