old man

American  

noun

Informal.

1. a father, usually one's own.

   His old man's letting him have the car for the prom.

2. a husband.

   The office is giving my old man a retirement party.

3. a boyfriend or male lover, especially a male lover with whom one cohabits.

4. (sometimes initial capital letters) a person in a position of authority, especially an employer or a commanding officer.

   The Old Man has ordered an inspection for Saturday morning.

5. (used affectionately in addressing a man).

6. old Adam.

7. southernwood.

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old man British  

noun

1. an informal term for father husband

2. informal (sometimes capitals) a man in command, such as an employer, foreman, or captain of a ship

3. facetious an affectionate term used in addressing a man

4. another name for southernwood

5. informal

   1. an adult male kangaroo

   2. (as modifier) very large

6. Christianity the unregenerate aspect of human nature

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

old man

There’s a well-known scene from a 2001 episode of “SpongeBob SquarePants” in which a mob of fish mistakes a feeble old man for a bully and attacks him.

From Salon ● Jun. 30, 2026

His first novel, a nearly 400-page story of an old man who travels to a fictional Southern city where he mostly sits on a park bench, has broken every rule in publishing.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 25, 2026

He carried on like he's a total bystander in Celtic's double-winning season, like he was an old man who wandered aimlessly into Lennoxtown and was bamboozled by what he saw.

From BBC ● Jun. 11, 2026

The richest old man in Omaha and his handpicked successor are not predicting a crash.

From MarketWatch ● May 21, 2026

“What was the old man doing, prowling around on a night like this? I’ll bet he was sopping wet.”

From "Summer of the Monkeys" by Wilson Rawls

Related Words

• dad
• father
• husband