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salesmanship

American  
[seylz-muhn-ship] / ˈseɪlz mənˌʃɪp /

noun

  1. the technique of selling a product.

    They used a promotional gimmick that was the last word in salesmanship.

  2. adeptness at creating interest in new ideas, products, methods, etc..

    The only ingredient lacking in the system was salesmanship.


salesmanship British  
/ ˈseɪlzmənʃɪp /

noun

  1. the technique, skill, or ability of selling

  2. the work of a salesman

"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

Etymology

Origin of salesmanship

1875–80; salesman + -ship; cf. -manship

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.

He laid out his approach in a salesmanship blog he wrote in 2016: Persuade people your product can save lives and government money, and identify influential politicians to be your advocate.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 23, 2026

In 1987, inspired by the salesmanship of the televangelists, Renker and his friend Bill Guthy saw an opportunity of their own.

From Slate • Feb. 21, 2025

But that’s just a hopeful bit of salesmanship.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 20, 2025

“What is salesmanship? What is reality? That’s the tricky part.”

From Seattle Times • Feb. 12, 2024

Ashima smiled, amused by her mother’s salesmanship; it had taken her the better part of a year to finish the cardigan, and still her mother had had to do the sleeves.

From "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri

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