point man
Americannoun
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the lead soldier of an infantry patrol on combat operations.
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a person who serves in the forefront, as of an economic or political issue.
noun
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military a soldier who walks at the front of an infantry patrol in combat
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the leader or spokesperson of a campaign or organization
Etymology
Origin of point man
An Americanism dating back to 1900–05
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.
And President Donald Trump’s financial-market point man, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, is likely to do whatever it takes to prevent that scenario.
From Barron's ● Jan. 29, 2026
Witkoff, who has been the administration’s point man on negotiations with the Kremlin, helped prepare Driscoll for the talks in Kyiv, one of the officials said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 19, 2025
Opotowsky was involved in both challenges — particularly the second, for which he served as the Press-Enterprise’s point man, Bernstein said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 26, 2024
It was Unguryan, The Family’s point man, who can be seen on the far left in a government photo of the participants.
From Salon ● Apr. 19, 2024
Noting William’s rapport with his British counterparts, the Army made him a point man in U.S.–U.K. intelligence relations, twice sending him on long trips overseas.
From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
