foreman

noun

fore·​man ˈfȯr-mən 

: a first or chief person: such as

a

: a member of a jury who acts as chairman and spokesman

b(1)

: a chief and often specially trained worker who works with and usually leads a gang or crew

(2)

: a person in charge of a group of workers, a particular operation, or a section of a plant

foremanship

ˈfȯr-mən-ˌship 

noun

Synonyms

• boss
• boss man
• captain
• chief
• head
• headman
• helmsman
• honcho
• jefe
• kingpin
• leader
• master
• taskmaster

Examples of foreman in a Sentence

asked the shift foreman if he could take a break

Recent Examples on the Web

One, the foreman, is a gentleman who was born in the Dominican Republic and came to NYC in 1996. —Dominic Patten, Deadline, 22 Apr. 2025

Ben Ross had originally worked as a timber foreman under his enslaver, Anthony Thompson, a wealthy landowner in the county. —Ella Jeffries, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Mar. 2025

Shockley's attorneys sought a new trial over concerns that the foreman was biased against him. —Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2025

Doc diagnoses the Yellowstone foreman with a subdural hematoma. —Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 9 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for foreman

• longshoreman
• longshoremen
• metformin
• corpsman
• foremen
• mormon
• warman

Kids Definition

foreman

noun

fore·​man ˈfōr-mən 

ˈfȯr-

1

: a member of a jury who is the leader

2

: a person in charge of a group of workers

Legal Definition

foreman

noun

fore·​man

plural foremen

: a male or female member of a jury who acts as the leader and speaks for the jury