penman

American  

[pen-muhn] / ˈpɛn mən /

noun

penmen plural

1. a person who writes or copies; scribe; copyist.

2. an expert in penmanship.

3. a writer or author.

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penman British  

/ ˈpɛnmən /

noun

1. a person skilled in handwriting

2. a person who writes by hand in a specified way

   a bad penman

3. an author

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• penmen
  plural

Etymology

Origin of penman

First recorded in 1585–95; pen ¹ + -man

Example Sentences

As director of speechwriting in Barack Obama's second term, he was the principal penman behind four State of the Unions.

From BBC • Feb. 3, 2023

Drakeo the Ruler was a one-of-a-kind penman, eschewing traditional English for a coded language of references and surrogates that could fill its own dictionary.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 20, 2021

But in penman Robert Hurford’s hands, H explodes like a Roman candle in ink.

From Washington Times • Aug. 5, 2017

We're pleased to have him there because John Green is the ultimate penman writing for our generation.

From The Guardian • Feb. 27, 2013

She even gave the penman, who set up temporary shop outside headquarters, a dime to make a card for her.

From "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith