Synonyms

best man

American

noun

the chief attendant of the bridegroom at a wedding.

best man British

noun

the (male) attendant of the bridegroom at a wedding

"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

Etymology

Origin of best man

First recorded in 1775–85

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.

The legal feud marks a dramatic falling-out between Anderson and his longtime mentor Burkle, who was the best man at Anderson’s wedding.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 6, 2026

At age 65, Lou served as the best man at his son’s wedding.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 5, 2026

Weston also said he is getting married in July - and Stoecker's boyfriend is the best man.

From BBC • Feb. 16, 2026

Marinakis has close family ties to HOC President Isidoros Kouvelos, and was best man at his wedding to former Athens mayor Dora Bakoyannis, the sister of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

From Barron's • Dec. 18, 2025

The best man for the job, he said, was a member of his Science Advisory Committee named James R. Killian.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023