yeoman

noun

yeo·​man ˈyō-mən 

1

a

: an attendant or officer in a royal or noble household

b

: a person attending or assisting another : retainer

c

: yeoman of the guard

d

: a naval petty officer who performs clerical duties

2

a

: a person who owns and cultivates a small farm

specifically : one belonging to a class of English freeholders below the gentry

b

: a person of the social rank of yeoman

3

: one that performs great and loyal service

did a yeoman's job in seeing the program through

Examples of yeoman in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

On the other hand, the Democratic-Republicans’ vision for the nation was based on the yeoman farmer with limited federal government and no standing army. —Lindsay M. Chervinsky / Made By History, TIME, 19 Sep. 2024

Lessening the impact of wildfires and expediting recovery can help farms and ranches do yeoman’s work to support health and the economy. —Andrew J. Whelton, The Conversation, 13 Aug. 2024

Ty one on: Holton has done yeoman’s work in the role (along with every other role this season), with just one run allowed in his seven starts, covering 14 innings (including two Monday). —Ryan Ford, Detroit Free Press, 4 Sep. 2024

Francis Fritz also joined the Navy when the war came and served as a yeoman. —Steve Bowersox, Baltimore Sun, 6 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English yoman, yeman

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing yeoman

• yeoman of the guard
• yeoman's/yeoman work/service
• yeoman warder

Kids Definition

yeoman

noun

yeo·​man ˈyō-mən 

1

a

: a servant in a royal or noble household

b

: a naval petty officer who works as a clerk

2

: a small landowning farmer