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milkman

American  
[milk-man] / ˈmɪlkˌmæn /

noun

  • milkmen
    plural
  1. a person who sells or delivers milk.


milkman British  
/ ˈmɪlkmən /

noun

  1. a man who delivers or sells milk

  2. a man who milks cows; dairyman

"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

Gender

See -man.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms


Etymology

Origin of milkman

First recorded in 1580–90; milk + 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:

A third, less observable source was more private and personal: When Goode’s first child was born, the milkman arrived at the doorstep almost daily bearing a fresh Alta Dena bottle.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 27, 2025

The milkman, Mahender, who uses one name, has appeared at dozens of hearings anyway.

From New York Times ● Jan. 13, 2024

Israeli actor charmed generations with his stage portrayal of Tevye, the long-suffering milkman in “Fiddler on the Roof.”

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 31, 2023

Gladys worked as a housekeeper for the local GP and then met her husband Stanley - a milkman - whom she married in 1940.

From BBC ● Oct. 25, 2023

And I tell her how Uncle Pat doesn’t want me anymore and how they put Mr. Timoney in the City Home for laughing just because Macushla bit the postman, the milkman and a passing nun.

From "Angela's Ashes: A Memoir" by Frank McCourt

"Most days the milkmen were delivering more empty bottles to our house than full ones."

From BBC ● Sep. 1, 2024

Return from home: Businesses own the reusable containers, which logistics providers pick up from people’s homes and then transport to a washing facility so they can be used again — much like milkmen of old.

From Salon ● May 2, 2024

Potential customers were so hungry for milk, eggs and other refrigerator staples that they have been stalking the milkmen.

From Washington Times ● Apr. 11, 2020

“It’s not our proudest moment rockin’ these all-white milkmen jerseys,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.

From Seattle Times ● Aug. 24, 2019

I like milkmen because one of them gave me two broken eggs which I swallowed raw with bits of shells and all.

From "Angela's Ashes: A Memoir" by Frank McCourt

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