lineman

American  

[lahyn-muhn] / ˈlaɪn mən /

noun

plural

linemen

1. Also a person who installs or repairs telephone, telegraph, or other wires.

2. Football. one of the players in the line, as a center, guard, tackle, or end.

3. Surveying. a person who marks the positions of a survey mark with a range pole or the like.

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lineman British  

/ ˈlaɪnmən /

noun

1. another name for platelayer

2. a person who does the chaining, taping, or marking of points for a surveyor

3. (formerly) the member of a beach life-saving team who controlled the line used to help drowning swimmers and surfers

4. American football a member of the row of players who start each down positioned on either side of the line of scrimmage

5. another word for linesman

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Gender

See -man.

Other Word Forms

• underlineman noun

Etymology

Origin of lineman

First recorded in 1855–60; line ¹ + -man

Example Sentences

Quarterback Jared Goff, running back Todd Gurley, defensive lineman Aaron Donald and cornerback Jalen Ramsey all made history with deals they signed as Rams.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 8, 2026

A former high-school football lineman and father of three, Morgan turned an early rejection—one sentence saying “no thanks”—from Chili’s into a three-decade restaurant career.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 6, 2026

Last year, the Rams signed Adams before free agency began, and then signed center Coleman Shelton, defensive lineman Poona Ford and linebacker Nate Landman after it started.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 3, 2026

Meanwhile, his brother had gotten a job making six figures as a lineman.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 7, 2026

Billy Steen, who bore no resemblance whatever to a football player but had become one through sheer will, fighting off an offensive lineman four inches taller and fifty pounds heavier to sack the quarterback.

From "Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, And A Dream" by H.G. Bissinger