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

Selonia and Reginald Reed Sr. Reggie Reed Jr. Selonia and Reginald, who was a Marine and later a car salesman, met during their high school years. —Vladimir Duthiers, Paul Larosa, CBS News, 12 Apr. 2025

When addressing board members, leadership is essentially a salesman tasked with promoting cybersecurity initiatives. —Dewayne Hart, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025

Alas, The Man said no to his dream of swinging a pickaxe all day within the bowels of a pitch-dark cave, and so poor Steve grew up to be the saddest doorknob salesman that Chuglass, Idaho had ever seen. —David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 2 Apr. 2025

All coaches are salesman, but the basketball coach at Texas A&M can often feel like Willie Loman. —Mac Engel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Apr. 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