businessman

American  

[biz-nis-man] / ˈbɪz nɪsˌmæn /

noun

businessmen plural

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

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businessman British  

/ ˈbɪznɪsˌmæn, -mən /

noun

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

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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

Etymology

Origin of businessman

First recorded in 1705–15; business + man

Example Sentences

One wild-card spender in this campaign is retired businessman Bill Bloomfield, who has put $367,093 into an independent campaign on behalf of Melvoin.

From Los Angeles Times • May 29, 2026

A US businessman and Republican congressional candidate told AFP Friday he discussed business opportunities with the grandson of former Cuban president Raul Castro in Havana at a critical time for US-Cuba relations.

From Barron's • May 29, 2026

The wealth manager invited a number of clients and prospects, but only one couple RSVP’d affirmatively—his cousin, a client, and her boyfriend, a wealthy local businessman whom Bodner considered a prospect, Rosen said.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 28, 2026

Searches were also carried out at the homes of senior party figures and a leading businessman.

From BBC • May 27, 2026

Founded by Sam Adams, its members included John Hancock, a businessman and a smuggler, and two doctors, Benjamin Church and Joseph Warren.

From "George Washington, Spymaster" by Thomas B. Allen