brakeman

noun

brake·​man ˈbrāk-mən How to pronounce brakeman (audio)
1
: a freight or passenger train crew member who inspects the train and assists the conductor
2
: the member of a bobsled team who operates the brake

Examples of brakeman in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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But the selection of the brakeman for the 2026 Olympic team has hit hurdles. Irene Wright, USA Today, 6 Feb. 2026 His brakeman for that event, Carsten Vissering, suffered abrasions and was unable to compete Sunday in the four-man. Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 14 Jan. 2026 The Conrail engineer and brakeman were found to be under the influence of drugs. Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com, 3 Jan. 2026 The first victim has been identified as the Gloria Funicular brakeman, André Marques, according to the Sitra (Transport Workers' Union). Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for brakeman

Word History

First Known Use

1833, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of brakeman was in 1833

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Cite this Entry

“Brakeman.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brakeman. Accessed 26 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

brakeman

noun
brake·​man ˈbrāk-mən How to pronounce brakeman (audio)
: a member of a train crew who inspects the train and assists the conductor
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