# Goodman

/ˈɡʊdmən/ (US) · /ɡˈʊdmən/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/goodman
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

an old-fashioned word for the male head of a house or a husband. It was used long ago as a polite title for a man who was not a member of the upper class.

For teachers: the male head of a household or a husband. Historically used as a title of address for a man of social standing below that of a gentleman.

## Examples

- The goodman of the house welcomed the travelers into his kitchen.
- In many old stories, the goodman works the fields while his wife manages the cottage.
- The archival records identify him as a goodman, indicating he held a respectable position in the village hierarchy without belonging to the landed gentry.

## Usage notes

- Archaic in register; primarily encountered in historical literature, folk tales, or legal documents from the early modern period.

---

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.