salesman

noun

sales·​man ˈsālz-mən How to pronounce salesman (audio)
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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
My Dad was the first salesman in Florida—the only Florida employee of Apple Computer. Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 June 2025 Wilson played Dunder Mifflin salesman and assistant manager Dwight Schrute for the entirety of the show’s nine-season run, which concluded in 2013. Glenn Garner, Deadline, 28 June 2025 All the other teams turned up lookin’ like insurance salesmen, and Nigeria came out lookin’ like actual superheroes. Eduardo Tansley, New York Times, 16 June 2025 Born in Boston, Walter had spent years bouncing around the country and into different jobs — salesman, chef, butler, lumberjack, law clerk, and restaurant manager. Mara Bovsun, New York Daily News, 15 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for salesman

Word History

First Known Use

1523, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of salesman was in 1523

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Salesman.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/salesman. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

salesman

noun
sales·​man -mən How to pronounce salesman (audio)
: one who sells in a specific territory or in a store
salesmanship
-ˌship
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on salesman

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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