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Synonyms

showmanship

American  
[shoh-muhn-ship] / ˈʃoʊ mənˌʃɪp /

noun

  1. the skill or ability of a showman.

Etymology

Origin of showmanship

First recorded in 1855–60; showman + -ship

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.

Sounds good, but that’s an 8-point drop from the year before—after a full year of showmanship.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026

Far-right media personalities are adept at commanding attention with showmanship and swagger.

From Salon • Mar. 10, 2026

Hennessy, who has won all six of her pro bouts and is known for her showmanship and dancing during ring walks, said she would "shine under the lights".

From BBC • Nov. 27, 2025

They had a different type of showmanship that blended magic with comedy and rock ‘n’ roll flair.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 15, 2025

Yet it was not an unhappy existence, especially for a little boy proud of his parents, admiring of their showmanship and courage—a happier life, certainly, than what replaced it.

From "In Cold Blood" by Truman Capote

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.