swordsman

American  

[sawrdz-muhn, sohrdz-] / ˈsɔrdz mən, ˈsoʊrdz- /

noun

plural

swordsmen

1. a person who uses or is skilled in the use of a sword.

2. a fencer.

3. a soldier.

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swordsman British  

/ ˈsɔːdzmən /

noun

1. one who uses or is skilled in the use of a sword

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Other Word Forms

• swordsmanship noun

Etymology

Origin of swordsman

First recorded in 1670–80; sword + 's ¹ + -man

Explanation

A swordsman is a person who is very good at swordplay or fencing. If you are looking to find a swordsman, you should look among Shakespeare's characters. While some people use the word swordsman whether they're talking about a man or a woman, it's increasingly common to use swordswoman for female fencers. These days, most swordsmen take part in the sport of fencing, while in the past a swordsman might actually have engaged in battle or dueled with swords to settle an argument. Before the mid-1600s, the word was swordman, from the Old English sweordfreca.

Example Sentences

Not to worry, though: Sargon is just as slick a swordsman, with the ability to swing two blades at once, pull off superhuman acrobatics and even stop and rewind time.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 14, 2024

Cyrano de Bergerac is, we are told, a “soldier, poet, philosopher, magician, playwright … and the best swordsman in Paris.”

From New York Times • Feb. 25, 2022

As his alias implies, he’s a master swordsman, and in the comics, he’s primarily known for his affiliation with Clint.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 24, 2021

Cyrano is a talented poet and an excellent swordsman who is secretly in love with a woman named Roxane, who is a lover of poetry herself.

From BBC • Oct. 6, 2021

"You were the finest swordsman in the city."

From "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin