Standard Lemma guide

bossman

noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈbɒsmæn/
  • Multicultural-London-English: /ˈbɔsmän/
  • General-American: /ˈbɔsmæn/
  • General-American: /ˈbɑs-/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: B AO1 S M AH0 N Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A male boss or employer.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: derogatory, informal, mildly, often

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

(MLE, informal)

Used as a term of address for an unfamiliar, possibly distrusted man: bud, buddy, friend.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: informal, vocative

Examples

  • You should watch what you say, bossman.
  • I don’t know what to tell you, bossman.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

(MLE, informal)

Used as a term of address for a man who appears courageous: boss.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: informal, vocative

Examples

  • You really showed them, bossman. What’s your name?

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From boss + man.