Standard Lemma guide

-man

suffix · 6 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

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  • /mən/
  • /mæn/

1

suffix

Meaning 1

Someone (possibly implied male) who is an expert in an area or who takes part in an activity.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: morpheme

Examples

  • horse + -man → horseman
  • sports + -man → sportsman

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

suffix

Meaning 2

Someone (possibly implied male) who is employed or holds a position in an area.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: morpheme

Examples

  • law + -man → lawman
  • news + -man → newsman

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

suffix

Meaning 3

Someone (possibly implied male) who has special characteristics relating to a topic or area.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: morpheme

Examples

  • free + -man → freeman
  • ice + -man → iceman
  • super + -man → superman

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

suffix

Meaning 4

Someone (possibly implied male) who has a particular nationality.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: morpheme

Examples

  • Scots + -man → Scotsman
  • Dutch + -man → Dutchman
  • China + -man → Chinaman
  • Yorkshire + -man → Yorkshireman

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

suffix

Meaning 5

A man whose name begins with the preceding letter.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: morpheme

Examples

  • H + -man → H-man (“man whose name starts with H, e.g. Harry”)
  • J + -man → J-man (“man whose name starts with an J”)

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

suffix

Meaning 6

A ship which has special characteristics relating to a trade or area.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: morpheme

Examples

  • Guinea + -man → Guineaman (“ship of the West African slave trade”)
  • East India + -man → East Indiaman
  • merchant + -man → merchantman
  • Greenland + -man → Greenlandman (“a whaling ship”)
  • China + -man → Chinaman (“sailing ship engaged in the Old China Trade”)

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *mon- Proto-Germanic *mann- Proto-West Germanic *mann Old English mann Middle English man Middle English -man English -man From Middle English -man, from the noun man.