Word
Definition
n. a man whose job is to sell products or services to customers. You might see him in a shop or he might visit people at their homes or offices.
n. a male individual engaged in the sale of goods or services. Often used in a general sense, though 'salesperson' is now more common in professional contexts to ensure gender neutrality.
Examples
“The salesman showed us the new car models.”
“A traveling salesman visited the office today to demonstrate a new type of industrial printer.”
“The veteran salesman understood that building a long-term relationship with the client was far more valuable than securing a single high-commission transaction through aggressive tactics.”
Examples
simple
“The salesman showed us the new car models.”
contextual
“A traveling salesman visited the office today to demonstrate a new type of industrial printer.”
complex
“The veteran salesman understood that building a long-term relationship with the client was far more valuable than securing a single high-commission transaction through aggressive tactics.”
Usage
The plural form is 'salesmen'.
Pitfall
The salesman she is very helpful.
The saleswoman is very helpful.
Learners sometimes use 'salesman' as a gender-neutral term, but it specifically refers to a man; use 'saleswoman' for a woman or 'salesperson' for any gender.
Real-World Examples
“Andrew Hiers, a classically trained opera singer, didn’t have a steady singing gig for months. In January, the day after he turned 38, he started a job as a car salesman at a dealership near his home in Cocoa, Florida.” “During the 19th and early 20th centuries, many men spent their lives traveling from town to town selling Bibles, encyclopedias and home goods. The job was so much a part of the U.S. economy that the door-to-door salesman became a cultural symbol.” “Dicko, a salesman constantly on the move, is seeking greener pastures not in Europe but much closer to his native Mali.” “A salesman, who has experienced this struggle firsthand and is currently facing it again, shared his insights with a TIMES reporter yesterday.” Etymology
From sales + -man.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
In Literature
Original artwork created for englishreference.com.
Death of a Salesman · 1949-01-01 · Tragedy
- Author:
- Arthur Miller
Arthur Miller’s classic 1949 play follows Willy Loman, an aging traveling salesman who begins to lose his grip on reality as he struggles with his failing career. The story uses Loman’s professional decline to critique the idea of the American Dream and the pressure to achieve material success. It remains one of the most famous literary portraits of a man whose identity is entirely defined by his job in sales.
- 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.A2 KeyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.3.0–4.0TOEFL 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: 2.0–2.524–43TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.225–549
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- A2 · Elementary
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/salesman
「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0
‘외래어’ data: 한국어기초사전 (국립국어원), CC BY-SA 2.0 KR