everyman

noun

ev·​ery·​man ˈev-rē-ˌman 

often capitalized

: the typical or ordinary person

Synonyms

• Joe Blow
• Joe Six-Pack
• John Doe
• little guy
• little man
• lug
• slob

Examples of everyman in a Sentence

an actor who is seen as the image of everyman

despite his superstar status, in his movies the actor is able to play the role of an everyman quite convincingly

Recent Examples on the Web

In a high-energy speech, Walz portrayed himself as a Midwestern everyman, a high school teacher turned swing-district lawmaker who has advanced key Democratic policies since being elected to his state’s top office in 2018. —Alexandra Banner, CNN, 7 Aug. 2024

Harris, 59, whipped through Walz’s resume Tuesday, depicting him to the crowd as an everyman who understands the travails of regular Americans. —James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2024

Paul Giamatti Despite his East Coast credentials as a Connecticut native and Yale University alum, the Oscar-winning character actor easily can play an everyman from anywhere. —Julie Hinds, Detroit Free Press, 6 Aug. 2024

But inside all of us there’s an everyman who can face the greatest darkness. —Damon Wise, Deadline, 26 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Everyman, allegorical character in The Summoning of Everyman, 15th century English morality play

First Known Use

1901, in the meaning defined above