Word
chapman
Phoneticschap·man, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈtʃæpmən/
UK/tʃˈæpmən/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a person who travels around to sell things, like a peddler.
n. a merchant or trader, especially one who travels between locations to sell various goods.
Examples
“The chapman arrived at the village with a bag of needles and thread.”
“In the sixteenth century, a chapman would often carry small books called chapbooks to sell to rural families.”
“Before the rise of permanent retail shops, the local chapman served as a vital link between urban manufacturing hubs and the isolated agrarian communities of the north.”
Examples
simple
“The chapman arrived at the village with a bag of needles and thread.”
contextual
“In the sixteenth century, a chapman would often carry small books called chapbooks to sell to rural families.”
complex
“Before the rise of permanent retail shops, the local chapman served as a vital link between urban manufacturing hubs and the isolated agrarian communities of the north.”
Usage
The term is now found almost exclusively in historical literature or as a surname.
Teaching tip
This word is obsolete in modern speech; learners will only encounter it in historical novels or academic texts about the Middle Ages.
Etymology
From Middle English chapman, chepman, meaning merchant or trader; equivalent to cheap (noun) + man. Doublet of Kaufman and Koopman.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C2 ProficiencyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.8.5–9.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 6.0114–120
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C2 · Proficiency
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
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- Archaic
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englishreference.com/q/chapman