# businessman

/ˈbɪznəsˌmæn/ (US) · /bˈɪznəsmən/ (UK) · CEFR A2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/businessman
Updated: 2026-05-02

## Definition

a man who works in business, especially one who has an important job in a company. You use this to describe someone who manages or owns a commercial organization.

For teachers: a male person engaged in commercial or industrial business, particularly in an executive or ownership capacity. Often replaced by the gender-neutral 'businessperson' in modern professional contexts.

## Examples

- The businessman wears a suit to every meeting.
- A local businessman decided to invest in the new community center to help young entrepreneurs.
- While the traditional image of a businessman involves a briefcase and a formal office, modern commerce allows many to operate entirely through digital platforms from remote locations.

## Usage notes

- Often used in the plural 'businessmen'; increasingly substituted with 'businessperson' or 'executive' to avoid gender-specific language.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.