showman

noun

show·​man ˈshō-mən How to pronounce showman (audio)
1
: the producer of a play or theatrical show
2
: a notably spectacular, dramatic, or effective performer
showmanship noun

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web At the Brooklyn Museum, a tribute to fashion’s showman who built temples out of curves and proved clothing had metamorphic properties. Vanessa Friedman, New York Times, 17 Nov. 2022 But Mary Frances Veeck, who was married for 36 years to that baseball showman and former White Sox owner named Bill Veeck, was not only a companion and mother to six children but a clever collaborator in her husband’s innovations and an unforgettable presence. Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune, 2 Oct. 2022 The event and its foundational exhibition — both guided by Diana Vreeland (pictured at left) — looked through the eyes of Russian showman Serge Diaghilev, who founded and funded famed dance company The Ballets Russes in the early 20th century. Zoey Lyttle, Peoplemag, 1 May 2023 While Tesla’s investor day on Wednesday marks the first such presentation for the young company, Tuesday was just the second time in 154 years for Goldman Sachs, and saw executives serving as company showmen, touting their products and accomplishments on jumbo screens and flashy banners. Nicole Goodkind, CNN, 1 Mar. 2023 With a price tag starting at just over $230k, the Lamborghini is really a showman’s vehicle and not your daily driver. Marc D. Grasso, Hartford Courant, 14 Jan. 2023 On Sunday at 8 p.m., Ben Davis will stand before a phalanx of journalists on the Embarcadero and, with a showman’s flair for the dramatic, press a button that connects to nothing. Heather Knight, San Francisco Chronicle, 4 Mar. 2023 There was plenty of thrilling track action in Tokyo despite the fact that, for the first time since 2004, the Olympics had to make do without the electric presence of Usain Bolt—the Jamaican sprinter who retired in 2017 and deprived his sport of its most charismatic showman and striker of poses. Martin Fritz Huber, Outside Online, 10 Aug. 2021 Harry Styles’s third solo album, Harry’s House, is a sonic trip through the showman’s psyche. Vogue, 9 Nov. 2022 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'showman.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1728, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of showman was in 1728

Dictionary Entries Near showman

Cite this Entry

“Showman.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/showman. Accessed 5 Jun. 2023.

Kids Definition

showman

noun
show·​man ˈshō-mən How to pronounce showman (audio)
1
: the producer of a theatrical show
2
: a person having a special skill for presenting something in a dramatic way
showmanship noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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