# sandman

/ˈsændˌmæn/ (US) · /sˈændmən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/sandman
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. mythical figure

noun · CEFR B2

a magical character who brings sleep and dreams by putting sand in your eyes.

For teachers: a folkloric character who induces sleep and dreams by sprinkling magical sand into the eyes of sleepers.

- The children were told that the sandman would visit them soon if they closed their eyes.
- In many European traditions, the sandman is a benevolent figure, though some literary interpretations portray him as a more unsettling presence.

Usage: Often used with the definite article 'the'.

### 2. seller of sand

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic

a person who used to sell sand for cleaning floors or for use in building.

For teachers: a person who sold sand, particularly for domestic use such as scouring floors or for industrial purposes.

- In the old days, the sandman would walk through the streets with his cart.
- The occupation of the sandman became obsolete as modern cleaning products and construction supply chains replaced local street vendors.

## Examples

- The children waited for the Sandman to arrive before they fell asleep.
- In many traditional bedtime stories, the Sandman is depicted as a gentle figure who ensures everyone gets a good night's rest.
- The Sandman serves as a liminal guardian in the narrative, bridging the waking world and the realm of dreams through his quiet, almost imperceptible intervention.

---

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.