tradesman

American  

[treydz-muhn] / ˈtreɪdz mən /

noun

plural

tradesmen

1. a person engaged in trade.

2. a worker skilled in a particular craft; artisan; craftsman.

3. Chiefly British. a shopkeeper.

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tradesman British  

/ ˈtreɪdzmən /

noun

1. a man engaged in trade, esp a retail dealer

2. a skilled worker

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Gender

See -man.

Other Word Forms

• tradeswoman noun

Etymology

Origin of tradesman

First recorded in 1590–1600; trade + 's ¹ + -man

Example Sentences

Suzanne, a nurse, felt guilty about medical costs and needing so much care and taking Rick, a self-employed tradesman, away from his job.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 10, 2026

The first—the shark—comes from Steven Spielberg’s 1975 blockbuster Jaws, in which a sheriff, a scientist, and a tradesman roll up their sleeves and put themselves in harm’s way to defeat a ferocious great white.

From Slate • Oct. 29, 2024

But he eventually developed a debilitating medical condition due to the injury, according to court documents, leading the skilled tradesman to quit his job.

From Los Angeles Times • May 23, 2024

Mr Cooper, a former carpenter, set up his snagging inspection company with a fellow tradesman six years ago after "seeing so much bad work" on building sites.

From BBC • Dec. 14, 2023

To our great surprise, they appeared well accustomed to traffic, and bargained with us with as much skill as any tradesman of Europe.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan