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

---

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

---

Etymology

Origin of goodman

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

Example Sentences

The final novel from Mario Vargas Llosa, Allegra Goodman’s family saga, a case of canine possession and more.

From The Wall Street Journal

Allegra Goodman’s family saga coaxes, in Sam Sacks’s words, “excellent, bone-dry humor” out of the skirmishes and long-running battles among members of a loving, fractious clan.

From The Wall Street Journal

It’s scheduled to report its next set of results in March and analysts expect the streak to continue—not least because a chief rival, Saks Global, which includes Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman, filed for bankruptcy in January.

From The Wall Street Journal

They also didn’t want to damage their relationship with Saks, Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman, but those stores have had a harder time pitching brands since their bankruptcy.

From The Wall Street Journal

Quinn stopped selling to Saks Fifth Avenue several years ago after the retailer missed payments, though she continues to supply Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• head of the house
• householder