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man

man

623 5.5
A male servant or helper who works for someone
  • noun
  • /mæn/
: criado
  • Anyway, your dad had it specially bound by that man in Italy years ago.

And what was the banging hammer man doing right?

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Examples

Synonyms

worker
vsman
600 1.0

A person employed to do physical or routine jobs

is specifically a male subordinate working directly for someone
servant
vsman
422 1.0

A person who works in someone's home doing jobs like cooking and cleaning

is specifically male and used for someone serving in a role
butler
vsman
161 3.7

A man who manages the staff in a large house and serves meals

is any male subordinate rather than the chief household manager
valet
vsman
39 6.0

A person who helps someone dress and care for their clothes

is wider, meaning any male subordinate in various support roles
workman
vsman
13 1.4

A person who does physical jobs like building or fixing things

is concentrated on hired service to an employer rather than trade work
manservant
vsman
  • Archaic
11 7.4

A man who works in someone's house doing jobs like cleaning and helping with meals

is a male subordinate who works in a specific role
company man
vsman
  • US
8 7.2

A worker who supports the employer instead of helping fellow workers

is about being a male subordinate serving in a particular capacity
footman
vsman
  • Archaic
7 8.9

A man who works in a large house, greeting visitors and serving meals

is broader, covering male subordinates in many employer roles
waterboy
vsman
  • Offensive
7 7.3

A person who does small, unimportant jobs for other people

is a neutral term for a male subordinate rather than low status work
lackey
vsman
  • Offensive
5 9.0

A man who works as a servant in a rich house and obeys orders

is the neutral male subordinate term without the negative tone
hired man
vsman
4 3.2

A man who works on a farm for pay

is focused on domestic or personal service rather than general labor
1 2.3

A person who works in a home doing cleaning, cooking and other daily tasks

covers any male subordinate working for someone in a particular capacity
gentleman's gentleman
vsman
  • Archaic
1 9.1

A man who helps a rich man dress and looks after his personal needs

is the general male subordinate label without the specialized personal focus
body servant
vsman
1 9.4

A person who helps someone dress and bathe every day

is broader, applying to any male subordinate not only personal care
valet de chambre
vsman
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A man who cares for a person's clothes and personal needs in a house or court

is a more general male subordinate term not limited to formality
man Friday
vsman
  • Informal
1 8.4

A loyal, reliable person who helps a leader with many tasks

is similar but refers to any male subordinate working in a role
servingman
vsman
  • Archaic
9.9

A man who works in a home to serve and help people

is the general male subordinate term used in various roles

Idioms

to be a man
  • Informal
117 7.3

Act with courage and responsibility when facing a hard situation

like a man
  • Informal
68 7.2

Acting with courage and responsibility when facing a problem

To make your own decisions without other people telling you what to do

A quiet man who speaks very little and seems thoughtful

man in the street
  • Literature
5 3.4

A regular person who shows the views of most people

Support and stay loyal to your husband or partner during hard times

4 9.8

To openly oppose people in power to cause them trouble

3 6.2

To say that every single person in a group is included

1 7.0

Choose to forgive rather than fight back

1 7.9

To feel very tired and weak like an older person

less of a man
  • Offensive
1 8.9

Feeling weaker or less manly than other men

every man Jack
  • Informal
1 9.0

Every person, without exception

1 7.6

Act with very strong, urgent energy and full focus

1 9.9

To leave and say you have private matters without giving details

A person who acts like an adult and forgives to stop an argument

9.9

A very good man who is strong and kind

5.8

Each person must look after themselves in a dangerous or confusing situation

9.9

Polite behavior shows who a person really is

to man the fort
  • Informal
6.9

To look after a place or job while others are away

said the blind man
  • Offensive
9.9

A joking phrase people use after 'I see' to show they do not believe someone

To focus on the issue, not on the person

Compounds

∞ 1.0

A male who is a teenager or a young adult

383 1.6

A man with light skin, often from Europe

380 1.0

A man who is very old

old man
  • Informal
312 1.4

A casual word for one's father

old man
  • Informal
287 2.7

A friendly way to call a man often older or in charge

152 2.4

A man who stands next to the groom and helps him at the wedding

102 1.0

A man who has a wife

74 1.0

A man who has a lot of money and owns many things

67 2.7

A man who is attracted to other men

66 4.2

A man respected for good judgment who gives advice to others

58 1.7

A man who has African ancestry and is seen as Black

hit man
  • Offensive
57 7.6

A person who criminals pay to kill someone

56 2.1

A man who cares a lot for his family and spends time with them

53 2.9

A man who does physical work with his hands, not an office worker

47 4.7

A person who tricks people by gaining their trust to get their money

40 3.9

Made for only one person to use or to perform a show

little man
  • Informal
39 6.5

A person who feels small and powerless against those in power

old man
  • Slang
39 8.0

A slang word for a workplace boss

31 2.0

A man who serves in the army or other armed forces

A person who helps a leader and is trusted with important work

30 1.6

A man who cannot see

30 2.0

An ordinary man without a title, rank, or special rights

man down
  • Jargon
29 6.5

A person who is injured or unable to move

A man around 45 to 65 years old

28 3.9

A male actor who plays the main role in a play, film, or TV show

ladies' man
  • Informal
28 7.0

A man who likes and attracts many women by flirting

main man
  • Informal
28 6.9

A person who others trust most in a group or situation

man and wife
  • Archaic
24 4.0

A married couple made of a man and a woman

20 7.0

An argument made to be easily attacked instead of the real one

19 1.7

A person who collects trash from homes and takes it away

19 7.4

A person in some tribes who heals people and leads spiritual rituals

19 4.9

A man people respect for his strong religious life, like a monk or priest

enlisted man
  • Specialized
16 4.9

A man who serves in the military but is not an officer

wild man
  • Offensive
15 7.5

A person who lives apart from others and acts like an animal

15 7.5

A performer who plays a serious role in a comedy to make the other person's jokes funnier

man-to-man
  • Informal
14 4.1

Two people talk directly and honestly to each other

point man
  • Informal
13 6.1

Main person who leads and speaks for a project or task

A person who fixes and looks after buildings and equipment

A man who works as a religious leader, like a priest

11 4.2

A man who decides quickly and gets things done

An ordinary person who is not an expert

A person who has skill and knowledge in many different areas like art and science

9 6.0

A person who was born female but lives as a man

odd man
  • Informal
9 5.9

A person who does not fit in with a group

macho-man
  • Informal
8 8.1

A man who acts very tough and shows his physical strength

odd man out
  • Informal
8 6.1

A person who is clearly different from others and does not fit in

preacher man
  • Informal
8 6.8

A man who talks about Christian beliefs in church

8 7.2

A worker who supports the employer instead of helping fellow workers

dirty old man
  • Offensive
8 8.4

An older man who makes sexual comments or touches younger people when they do not want him to

8 5.1

A room in a home where a man relaxes and enjoys hobbies

7 8.2

A small green creature said to come from another planet

7 4.9

Each defender guards one specific opponent

7 6.5

A man who lives in the mountains or other wild places and can hunt and survive

man-hour
  • Specialized
6 3.4

The work one person does in one hour

A small sweet biscuit shaped like a person and decorated with icing

5 7.9

A man who acts as the public leader while others secretly control things

A man who has a lot of life experience and is comfortable in many social situations

college man
  • Informal
5 3.0

A man who is or was a student at a college

4 4.9

A person who has a lot of money and property

4 1.6

A man who is no longer married because the court ended his marriage

A man who often goes to restaurants, parties, and the theater for fun

4 3.2

A man who works on a farm for pay

4 2.3

A man who serves in the navy

yes-man
  • Offensive
4 8.1

A person who always agrees with people in power to please them

little old man
  • Informal
3 2.1

An old small man who many people like

man of letters
  • Literature
3 8.4

A man who studies and writes about books and literature

medical man
  • Archaic
3 7.7

A man who is a doctor often appears in old books or stories

yes man
  • Offensive
3 5.5

A person who always agrees with someone in charge to get approval or avoid trouble

man in the moon
  • Literature
3 6.7

A shape people imagine on the moon's surface that looks like a face

3 4.2

A man who works on trains or train tracks

A man who has never been married

3 3.2

A man who sells sweets to children from a cart or stall

3 3.7

The group that includes all living human beings

How Senior

manager
∞ 1.6
supervisor
346 2.8
employee
∞ 1.3
man
623 5.5
servant
422 1.0

Surface Forms

man singular
men plural

Etymology

Man was also used for a male worker or servant — a 'man' of someone — so it came to mean a male assistant or agent. This is why in older stories a gentleman might have 'my man' to help with personal tasks.