salesman

noun

sales·​man ˈsālz-mən 

plural salesmen

: a person (especially a man) whose job is to sell a product or service in a given territory, in a store, or by telephone compare salesperson, saleswoman

Synonyms

• clerk
• salesclerk
• salesperson

Examples of salesman in a Sentence

He was the company's best salesman last year.

a furniture salesman followed us around the whole time we looked for a new couch

Recent Examples on the Web

But then, The New York Times looked inside the medicine chest of our favorite belly-jumping, eyeball-rolling, exploding-car salesman, and that was that. —Pat Beall, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 June 2025

But one couple in particular stands out: A traveling costume jewelry salesman, Lars Thorwald, and his nagging, bedridden wife. —Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025

Still, ever the salesman, Trump started a victory lap well past the starting line. —Philip Elliott, Time, 12 May 2025

Goggins nails the self-seriousness of this comic character and gets a boost from best friend Sam Rockwell, who appears as a balloon salesman with similarly tiny tootsies. —Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 11 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1523, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing salesman

• traveling salesman

Rhymes for salesman

• salesmen

Kids Definition

salesman

noun

sales·​man -mən 

: one who sells in a specific territory or in a store

salesmanship

-ˌship

noun