goodman
noun
the master of a household; husband.
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goodman
1 American
[good-muhn]
/ ˈgʊd mən /
noun
Archaic.
goodmen
plural
-
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.
Goodman
2
American
[good-muhn]
/ ˈgʊd mən /
noun
goodman
1
British
/ ˈɡʊdmən /
noun
-
a husband
-
a man not of gentle birth: used as a title
-
a master of a household
Goodman
2
British
/ ˈɡʊdmən /
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of goodman
Middle English word dating back to 1125–75; see origin at good, -man
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
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)
Well, they wanted a labourer, and the goodman set him to pick up stones off the field.
From Tales from the Fjeld A Second Series of Popular Tales by Asbj?rnsen, P. Chr.
But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
From Rome, Turkey, and Jerusalem by Hoare, Edward
Why, I tell thee I cannot have the garden left so empty; wouldst have me with none to talk with but goodman Matthew?
From Judith Shakespeare Her love affairs and other adventures by Black, William
Indeed, Prudence, I have seen no ghost, and goodman Wizard has failed me utterly; nor sprite nor phantom has been near me.
From Judith Shakespeare Her love affairs and other adventures by Black, William
“He wanted to do something about it rather than just talk about it,” David Goodman, his younger brother, told me.
From Slate ● Jul. 27, 2026
“Otherwise, you sit there and moan and groan and don’t vote. They’re going to do what they want,” David Goodman said.
From Slate ● Jul. 27, 2026
Earlier, Alex Goodman KC, for Crowborough Shield, said the Home Office wrongly decided the need to accommodate asylum seekers constituted an "emergency" under planning rules, meaning it was automatically granted permission to develop the site.
From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026
“Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue and Bergdorf Goodman have long set the standard for luxury retail in the U.S., and we are committed to building upon that legacy.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 26, 2026
Like Gene Kahn, Drew and Myra Goodman make no apol-ogies for the way they do business.
From "The Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan
A strange old piece, goodmen — whirled about from here to yonder, as if I were nothing!
From Far from the Madding Crowd by Hardy, Thomas
Saw the Westmilne house, the goodmen wheirof ware Boswels.
From Publications of the Scottish History Society, Volume 36 Journals of Sir John Lauder Lord Fountainhall with His Observations on Public Affairs and Other Memoranda 1665-1676 by Fountainhall, John Lauder, Lord
Moreover the goodmen and swains of the said township were no ill folk, but bold of heart, free of speech, and goodly of favour; and the women of them fair, kind, and trusty.
From Child Christopher and Goldilind the Fair by Morris, William
All the goodmen took one counsel, and went to Hoskuld and told him their trouble.
From Laxdæla Saga Translated from the Icelandic by Press, Muriel A.C.
Pleasant it is to think of the church appearance of the Puritan goodmen and goodwives.
From Sabbath in Puritan New England by Earle, Alice Morse
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.
