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

Sarnoski’s film takes its title from one of those ballads, in which Robin Hood — long before there was any Maid Marian to speak of — was a mere yeoman. — ABC News, 17 June 2026

Seniors Myles Montgomery and Jaden Nixon did yeoman’s work, accounting for 66% of the team’s rushing yards (1,259) and 55% of the team’s carries (214). — Matt Murschel, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 June 2026

If the human was doing the yeoman’s level of intellectual effort, perhaps the AI can be downplayed as a contributor. — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 11 May 2026

Of course, running backs coach Bobby Turner does yeoman’s work on tailback prospects every year, so that interest probably shouldn’t be a surprise. — Matt Barrows, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2026

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

Rhymes for yeoman

• abdomen
• cognomen
• bildungsroman
• bowmen
• coman
• foeman
• foemen
• gnomon
• nomen
• omen
• roman
• showman

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