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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.


tradespeople British  
/ ˈtreɪdzˌfəʊk, ˈtreɪdzˌpiːpəl /

plural noun

  1. people engaged in trade, esp shopkeepers

"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 tradespeople

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

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.

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

The brand also gives priority to comfort, since younger generations of tradespeople tend to gravitate toward more comfortable and lighter fabrics that can still be practical, Girouard said.

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

Swansea-based snagging expert John Cooper said the issues at Fern Meadow were common on new-build estates across the UK, with too few quality tradespeople to cope with the demand.

From BBC • Nov. 15, 2024

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