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

Noun Inflected Forms

• penmen
  plural

Etymology

Origin of penman

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

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

penman penmen

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

The organization has grown from 170 penmen and women in 2000 to 1,400 today, with members in 18 countries.

From Washington Times ● Aug. 5, 2017

The question prompted a wave of heartfelt testimonies from fanatical fountain penmen.

From BBC ● May 22, 2012

Quick were Old Gold's silver penmen to start the backfire.

From Time Magazine Archive

W. L. George and his kindred penmen have long prospered in the back lots and less respectable areas of journalism.

From Time Magazine Archive

The workmanship was no less fastidious even at the bottom of the board, near the doorsill, where the two penmen, each in his turn, had obviously lain on their stomachs.

From "Franny and Zooey" by J. D. Salinger