townsman

[tounz-muhn]

noun

plural

townsmen 

1. a native or inhabitant of a town.

2. a native or inhabitant of one's own or the same town.

3. (in New England) a selectman.

townsman

/ ˈtaʊnzmən /

noun

1. an inhabitant of a town

2. a person from the same town as oneself

Gender Note

See -man.

Other Word Forms

• townswoman noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of townsman¹

before 1000; Middle English; Old English tūnesman fellow member of a township. See town, 's ¹, man

Example Sentences

It was claimed that townsmen wanted to spare Alice Bailey from testifying in court.

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He was watching television when he spotted his fellow townsman, Mr. Johnson.

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I don’t like the look of the townsmen hovering around the edge of the lot.

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Even today, two townsmen stand on either side of the opening, night and day, taking eight-hour shifts.

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An endless stream of friends, well-wishers, townsmen, Marines, the regulars at Hobie’s, and teachers of her four children came to the house to offer their condolences.

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Related Words

• inhabitant 
• national 
• resident 
• taxpayer