goodman
noun
the master of a household; husband.
goodman
1 American
[good-muhn]
/ ˈgʊd mən /
noun
Archaic.
-
goodmen
plural
-
the master of a household; husband.
-
(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
goodman
1
British
/ ˈɡʊdmən /
noun
-
a husband
-
a man not of gentle birth: used as a title
-
a master of a household
Goodman
2
British
/ ˈɡʊdmən /
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of goodman
Middle English word dating back to 1125–75; see origin at 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.
See Examples For:
After this manner did the gleesome chat go on, now that the surly goodman had withdrawn from the scene.
From The Shepherd's Calendar Volume I (of II) by James Hogg
Upon my honor, this little goodman is very fractious.
From The Barber of Paris by Charles Paul de Kock
But at that word the goodman, who had snatched up a thatching stake, paused on the threshold.
From Sophia A Romance by Stanley John Weyman
And wheresoever he shall go in, say ye to the goodman of the house, The Master saith my time is at hand; I will keep the passover at thy house with my disciples.
From Walks and Words of Jesus A Paragraph Harmony of the Four Evangelists by M. N. Olmsted
"Yes," she said, "so I am; only just now my goodman is out fishing, and as he's rather late, it makes me anxious."
From The Necklace of Princess Fiorimonde and Other Stories by Mary de Morgan
Around this time, Kearns made his way to Chicago, where he studied acting at the original Goodman School of Drama, which became the Theatre School at DePaul University, and graduated in 1972.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026
The decision by Goodman Group follows an announcement by the New South Wales government last month that it would be introducing a fast-track programme for data centres.
From BBC ● Sep. 28, 2026
“You’re basically buying an annuity,” said Aaron Goodman, a Vanguard researcher who worked on the report.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 15, 2026
Mr. Goodman writes about the job of White House counsel:
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 8, 2026
Mrs. Goodman said, “You know, Sister Henderson, she wasn’t with me long enough for me to get the real habit of her, but still I miss her. She was sweet when she wanted to be.”
From "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou
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 Harrison S. (Harrison Smith) Morris
So we scattered and covered ourselves with the oak-boles, but besides Iron-shield, who was slain outright, two goodmen were sorely hurt, to wit Bald-face, a man of our house, and Stonyford of the Lower Dale.
From The Roots of the Mountains; Wherein Is Told Somewhat of the Lives of the Men of Burgdale by William Morris
A strange old piece, goodmen — whirled about from here to yonder, as if I were nothing!
From Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy
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 Lord John Lauder Fountainhall
Pleasant it is to think of the church appearance of the Puritan goodmen and goodwives.
From Sabbath in Puritan New England by Alice Morse Earle
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
