businessman

[biz-nis-man]

noun

plural

businessmen 

1. a man regularly employed in business, especially a white-collar worker, executive, or owner.

businessman

/ ˈbɪznɪsˌmæn, -mən /

noun

1. a person, esp a man, engaged in commercial or industrial business, esp as an owner or executive

Usage

There is a gender-neutral form, businessperson , but it does not appear to be very widely used. The plural business people is quite widely used, and if you wish to avoid being gender-specific, you could try recasting your sentence to use the plural

Word History and Origins

Origin of businessman¹

First recorded in 1705–15; business + man

Example Sentences

Wealthy Democratic businessman Stephen J. Cloobeck and Republican Riverside Sheriff Chad Bianco declined an invitation to participate in the forum, citing prior commitments.

From Los Angeles Times

I recently received a journalism award that I cannot publicize—because it recognizes a profile piece I wrote about a queer businessman, and that article appeared in the pages of a federally-funded magazine.

From Salon

A lot of people see the president less as a frothing-at-the-mouth fanatic and more like a glib businessman, the guy they remember with some fondness from “The Apprentice.”

From Salon

Several years ago Gibson was playing golf with an Australian businessman who had no idea that Gibson was once a baseball and football star.

From Los Angeles Times

Sen. Alex Padilla and businessman Rick Caruso have also both publicly flirted with a bid for the state’s top office, but have yet to make a decision.

From Los Angeles Times