salesgirl

American  

[seylz-gurl] / ˈseɪlzˌgɜrl /

noun

1. a woman who sells goods, especially in a store; saleswoman.

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Usage

What does salesgirl mean? Salesgirl was once commonly used as another word for saleswoman—a woman whose job is to sell products or services. Though salesgirl may still be used, and some saleswomen may apply the term to themselves, salesgirl is often considered outdated and demeaning due to the use of the word girl when such workers are usually women. The same is the case for the synonym shopgirl. The sales in salesgirl and saleswoman refers to the type of occupation or the division or department within a company. The terms salesgirl and saleslady (a less common synonym for saleswoman) are especially associated with women who work in retail stores, as opposed to those who work as saleswomen in other settings. The terms salesclerk, salesperson, and sales rep (or sales representative) can be used to mean the same thing without specifying gender.

Etymology

Origin of salesgirl

An Americanism dating back to 1885–90; sales + girl

Example Sentences

“Bachelor Mother”: Ginger Rogers and David Niven — she’s a salesgirl in a department store, he’s the wealthy store owner — go to a New Year’s Eve party in this charming 1939 rom-com.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 30, 2022

A sausage salesman trains hard for a ski competition to win the heart of a salesgirl.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 24, 2020

Ms. Mellon returned to England for boarding school and then skipped college to work as a salesgirl at a London department store.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 7, 2016

My mother once took me shopping for clothes when the salesgirl blurted out, “You’re the most beautiful child I’ve ever seen.”

From New York Times • Jun. 18, 2016

“You’re so lucky you can wear anything!” the salesgirl at Lord & Taylor’s had complimented her as she swiveled this way and that before the dressing-room mirror.

From "Dreaming in Cuban" by Cristina García