doorman

American  

[dawr-man, -muhn, dohr-] / ˈdɔrˌmæn, -mən, ˈdoʊr- /

noun

plural

doormen

1. the door attendant of an apartment house, nightclub, etc., who acts as doorkeeper and may perform minor services for entering and departing residents or guests.

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doorman British  

/ ˈdɔːˌmæn, -mən /

noun

1. a man employed to attend the doors of certain buildings

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Etymology

Origin of doorman

First recorded in 1855–60; door + man

Explanation

A doorman's job involves being stationed near a door, to monitor the entrance and hold the door for people as they come and go. Fancy hotels and apartment buildings usually have a doorman. The doorman at the hotel where you're staying in New York might call a cab for you, or take your suitcase and find a bellhop to carry it to your room. The presence of a doorman can make a building feel more elegant, and also safer — one of a doorman's jobs is keeping an eye on things and providing security. In the UK, a doorman is also called a porter.

Example Sentences

But DeMarr struggles to break free from his Doorman niche.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 2, 2026

But no matter how agile and sneaky one gets, there is one person whose presence is unavoidable: The Doorman.

From New York Times • Dec. 14, 2018

The Karel Doorman was loaded with vehicles and supplies donated by nine European countries and Unicef, the UN children's agency.

From BBC • Nov. 24, 2014

Julius Kanubah from the E.U.’s political section in Liberia said the navy vessel Karel Doorman would arrive Monday at the port in Liberia’s capital, Monrovia.

From Washington Times • Nov. 24, 2014

I kiss the Doorman on the cheek and walk out.

From "I Am the Messenger" by Markus Zusak

Related Words

• concierge