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goodman

1 American  
[good-muhn] / ˈgʊd mən /

noun

Archaic.

plural

goodmen

  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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of goodman

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Both Manuel Quezon and goodman Osme�a were mum last week.

From Time Magazine Archive

And the bairns stood round about, and the goodman sat by and looked on.

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

Why, I know time is, and that thou shalt hear, goodman kettle jaws.

From Amusing Prose Chap Books by Various

Bell, my wife, she loves not strife, Yet she will lead me if she can; And oft, to live a quiet life, I'm forced to yield, though I'm goodman.

From Rob of the Bowl, Vol. I (of 2) A Legend of St. Inigoe's by Kennedy, John P.

"Close that book, and I will tell you, goodman," said Merodach.

From The Shepherd's Calendar Volume I (of II) by Hogg, James

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.