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adman

American  
[ad-man, -muhn] / ˈædˌmæn, -mən /

noun

  • admen
    plural
  1. Also called advertising man. one whose profession is writing, designing, or selling advertisements.

  2. a printer or compositor who specializes in setting advertisements.


adman British  
/ ˈædˌmæn, -mən /

noun

  1. informal a person who works in advertising

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

Etymology

Origin of adman

1905–10; ad 1 + man or -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:

The legendary adman David Ogilvy said that the best way to reach consumers was with everyday conversational English.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 30, 2026

British "adman" Rory Sutherland, who has spent 37 years in the heart of the advertising world, currently as vice-chairman of Ogilvy, fully approves of the Waleses' approach to striking a more modern tone.

From BBC ● Nov. 30, 2025

With the vote to amend the city’s noise ordinances, Minneapolis would become the first major American city to allow all five broadcasts of the Muslim call to prayer, or adman.

From Washington Times ● Apr. 14, 2023

One of the more touching anecdotes in the film was adman Ron Barrett's campaigns to help bolster the Automat during its decline.

From Salon ● Feb. 17, 2022

Kindly refrain yourself from the adman jargon and attempts to snow the troops.

From Telempathy by Vance Simonds

This was the era of admen, family men, laymen, oil men, men men men men men.

From New York Times ● Jan. 12, 2022

And while people are advocating for what’s best for students and families, admen and agencies, they’re not advocating for what’s best for teachers.

From Slate ● Sep. 16, 2020

It’s a gimmick but one that does come with some moral high ground: he’s able to say honestly that he doesn’t pal around with admen and has restricted access to political hired guns.

From Washington Post ● Sep. 3, 2018

Sam Duvet and Tim Cramblin are admen, but with none of the style, savvy or skills of Don Draper and Roger Sterling.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 12, 2017

Replicating radio, it was not merely supported by admen; it was run by them.

From The New Yorker ● Oct. 12, 2015

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