spaceman

IPA/ˈspeɪsmæn/
IPA/ˈspeɪsmæn/

spaceman — noun

  • spacemansingular
  • spacemenplural

1. a person who goes into space in a spacecraft, especially as part of a planned mi

1.nounB1
Definition

a person who goes into space in a spacecraft, especially as part of a planned mission.

Example

Rania trained for years before becoming the youngest spaceman on the mission.

pattern: become the youngest spaceman on the mission

The spaceman floated outside the station to repair a loose panel.

collocation: repair a loose panel outside the station

Common collocations
  • young spaceman
  • brave spaceman
  • become a spaceman
  • retired spaceman
Synonyms
  • astronaut

    the standard modern word for a person who travels in space

  • cosmonaut

    used especially for a Russian or former Soviet space traveller

  • space traveller

    a broader phrase that can sound descriptive rather than fixed

Usage Note

In current news and science writing, astronaut is usually the more neutral choice. Spaceman still appears in older writing, casual speech, and headlines that want a vivid, familiar word.

Common Mistakes

Three spacemans waved from the poster.
Three spacemen waved from the poster.
The plural form is spacemen, not spacemans.

2. in stories, a being that comes from another planet and visits Earth.

2.nounB1
Definition

in stories, a being that comes from another planet and visits Earth.

Example

In the cartoon, a green spaceman landed in Mia's garden at midnight.

story context: cartoon spaceman landing in a garden

The children built a silver spaceman from boxes for the class play.

Common collocations
  • green spaceman
  • friendly spaceman
  • tiny spaceman
  • spaceman costume
Synonyms
  • alien

    the broad modern word for a being from another world

  • extra-terrestrial

    more formal and often used in science-fiction or discussion

  • Martian

    specifically an imagined being from Mars

Usage Note

This sense belongs mainly to cartoons, children's stories, and casual talk about imagined life from other planets. For real people on space missions, astronaut is usually the better word.

Common Mistakes

The spaceman repaired the real satellite in orbit.
The astronaut repaired the real satellite in orbit.
Use astronaut for an actual person on a space mission.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Astronaut is the standard modern word for a person who travels in space, especially in news reports and scientific writing. Spaceman is more vivid and slightly older in tone, so it appears more often in headlines, children's books, and casual conversation. Cosmonaut is used mainly for Russian or former Soviet space travellers, so it has a narrower historical use. Alien belongs to a different idea: it usually means a being from another planet, not a trained person on a space mission. If you are talking about a real mission, astronaut is usually safest; if you are describing a storybook or toy figure, spaceman often sounds more natural.

spaceman ↗astronaut ↗cosmonaut ↗alien ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • spaceman costume
  • spaceman helmet
  • spaceman toy
  • spaceman poster

Phrases

  • dress up as a spaceman
  • play a spaceman in a film

Prepositions

  • as a spaceman

Etymology

English

Spaceman was formed in modern English from space and man. It became common in the mid-20th century as real space travel and science-fiction stories became part of everyday culture.

First known use

1932

1932, in the meaning defined at sense 1