forewoman

American  

[fawr-woom-uhn, fohr-] / ˈfɔrˌwʊm ən, ˈfoʊr- /

noun

plural

forewomen

1. a woman in charge of a particular department or group of workers.

2. a woman on a jury selected to preside over and speak for all the jurors on the panel.

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Gender

See -woman.

Etymology

Origin of forewoman

First recorded in 1700–10; fore- + woman

Example Sentences

As costume shop forewoman at LACC, McKenna pulled together technically impeccable and historically accurate costumes for everything from Neil Simon’s “Lost in Yonkers” to the midcentury French drama “Cher Antoine.”

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 12, 2025

The judge questioned the forewoman about what happened and she admitted her mistake in saying the jury had reached a unanimous verdict when it had not.

From BBC • Jan. 11, 2024

“It was a difficult case because we all trust law enforcement,” the jury forewoman, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told The Associated Press.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 8, 2023

Jury forewoman Emily Kohrs made a round of media appearances in February.

From Washington Times • Jul. 11, 2023

"Is youse lady-friends?" the forewoman asked when, in the course of ten minutes, she came to inspect our progress; on receiving an affirmative reply, she scowled.

From The Long Day The Story of a New York Working Girl As Told by Herself by Richardson, Dorothy