Jump To:

• goodman
  goodman

  noun

  the master of a household; husband.
• Goodman
  Goodman

  noun

  Benjamin David Benny, 1909–86, U.S. jazz clarinetist and bandleader.

goodman

¹ American  

[good-muhn] / ˈgʊd mən /

noun

Archaic.

goodmen plural

1. the master of a household; husband.

2. (initial capital letter) a title of respect used for a man below the rank of gentleman, especially a farmer or yeoman.

---

Goodman ² American  

[good-muhn] / ˈgʊd mən /

noun

1. Benjamin David Benny, 1909–86, U.S. jazz clarinetist and bandleader.

---

goodman ¹ British  

/ ˈɡʊdmən /

noun

1. a husband

2. a man not of gentle birth: used as a title

3. a master of a household

---

Goodman ² British  

/ ˈɡʊdmən /

noun

1. Benny, full name Benjamin David Goodman. 1909–86, US jazz clarinetist and bandleader, whose treatment of popular songs created the jazz idiom known as swing

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• goodmen
  plural

Etymology

Origin of goodman

Middle English word dating back to 1125–75; see origin at good, -man

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

goodman Goodman goodmen

Then the goodman saw that he had done his work, and felt he ought to keep a workman who was so strong.

From Tales from the Fjeld A Second Series of Popular Tales by Asbj?rnsen, P. Chr.

Well, every man to his own taste; but, Betty, excuse my asking so personal a question, why do you always refer to your goodman here as "Nathan, puir falla"?'

From Betty Grier by Waugh, Joseph Laing

"Oh yes," replied the goodman, "but at table, it is late and we will sup."

From Gabriel A Story of the Jews in Prague by Kohn, Spiegfried

The wyfe of the house runnes out with her goodman to intreat the Counstable for her gestes, and leaues the Pyg at the fyre alone.

From The Rogues and Vagabonds of Shakespeare's Youth Awdeley's 'Fraternitye of vacabondes' and Harman's 'Caveat' by Awdeley, John

Indeed, Prudence, I have seen no ghost, and goodman Wizard has failed me utterly; nor sprite nor phantom has been near me.

From Judith Shakespeare Her love affairs and other adventures by Black, William

Soon enough, Andrew Goodman was on his way to Mississippi to help register Black Americans to vote.

From Slate ● Jul. 27, 2026

“Otherwise, you sit there and moan and groan and don’t vote. They’re going to do what they want,” David Goodman said.

From Slate ● Jul. 27, 2026

Earlier, Alex Goodman KC, for Crowborough Shield, said the Home Office wrongly decided the need to accommodate asylum seekers constituted an "emergency" under planning rules, meaning it was automatically granted permission to develop the site.

From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026

Goodman often speaks to her more than 660,000 followers on Instagram and TikTok about estrangement and “emotionally immature” parents.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026

Mrs. Goodman was leaning on the red Coca-Cola box.

From "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou

A strange old piece, goodmen — whirled about from here to yonder, as if I were nothing!

From Far from the Madding Crowd by Hardy, Thomas

But when they came to the gate of the Thorp, there were assembled the goodmen and swains to meet them with torches and wine in their honour. 

From The Roots of the Mountains; Wherein Is Told Somewhat of the Lives of the Men of Burgdale by Morris, William

Saw the Westmilne house, the goodmen wheirof ware Boswels.

From Publications of the Scottish History Society, Volume 36 Journals of Sir John Lauder Lord Fountainhall with His Observations on Public Affairs and Other Memoranda 1665-1676 by Fountainhall, John Lauder, Lord

Ho, Phyllis and Kate and bonny Nell Come hither, and buffet the goodmen well, An they gather not for hall and hearth, Fair bays to grace the evening mirth.

From In The Yule-Log Glow—Book 3 Christmas Poems from 'round the World by Morris, Harrison S. (Harrison Smith)

Pleasant it is to think of the church appearance of the Puritan goodmen and goodwives.

From Sabbath in Puritan New England by Earle, Alice Morse

Related Words

• head of the house
• householder