tradespeople

American  

[treydz-pee-puhl] / ˈtreɪdzˌpi pəl /

Also tradesfolk

plural noun

1. those persons who are engaged in trade; tradesmen.

2. Chiefly British.

   1. tradesmen.

   2. shopkeepers collectively.

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tradespeople British  

/ ˈtreɪdzˌfəʊk, ˈtreɪdzˌpiːpəl /

plural noun

1. people engaged in trade, esp shopkeepers

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Etymology

Origin of tradespeople

First recorded in 1720–30; trade + 's ¹ + people

Example Sentences

The pub and deli owner claimed there had been a "war against tourism" and work for tradespeople was "slowly starting to dry up" as second home owners "haven't got the money to spend".

From BBC • Mar. 23, 2026

Used daily as a goods entrance by servants and tradespeople in the 1800s, the tunnel has remained unseen since the 1970s.

From BBC • Mar. 17, 2026

Brunt Workwear sells footwear and clothes to tradespeople such as mechanics, builders and electricians.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 2, 2026

Today, with just a dozen left and at least one set to retire this year, these tradespeople are disappearing.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 14, 2026

When the first commercial public concerts started taking place in London the net widened to include merchants and tradespeople, a development in which England very much led the way.

From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall