Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

showmanship

American  
[shoh-muhn-ship] / ˈʃoʊ mənˌʃɪp /

noun

  1. the skill or ability of a showman.

Etymology

Origin of showmanship

First recorded in 1855–60; showman + -ship

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.

But now this one act of pure showmanship has become the electrifying coda of Malinin’s programs as he stakes his claim as the greatest figure skater of all time.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 10, 2026

He sits straight, eyes bright, maintaining contact with subtle showmanship.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 24, 2025

Simply observe how Richter compensates for a deficit of technical prowess with showmanship.

From Salon • Nov. 4, 2025

What followed next was history playing out in real time -- an extraordinary moment even for a reality TV star-turned-president with a flair for showmanship.

From Barron's • Oct. 9, 2025

She holds out her hand and turns it slowly, presenting it with a certain amount of showmanship so that Marco can see that there is no illusion involved.

From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern

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.