stuntman

Word family

• stunt
  nounB1
• stuntwoman
  nounB2
• stunt performer
  nounB2
• stunt double
  nounB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Stuntman, stunt performer, and stunt double all refer to people who perform dangerous physical actions, but the terms differ in scope and register. 'Stuntman' is the traditional term and remains common in everyday conversation, though it specifies male performers. 'Stunt performer' is the gender-neutral alternative now preferred in film credits and professional contexts — it includes both men and women who do stunt work. 'Stunt double' is narrower: it means a performer hired specifically to replace one particular actor for dangerous scenes, often because they resemble that actor's build and look. For example, a director might say 'We need a stunt double for the lead actress in the fall scene' rather than 'stuntman.' 'Action performer' is the broadest term, covering anyone who does physical performance work — including fight choreographers, parkour athletes, and circus acrobats — not just film substitutes.

Common collocations

Etymology

Formed by combining 'stunt' (an unusual or daring act, from late 19th-century US college slang meaning 'something difficult') with 'man.' The compound 'stuntman' appeared in the early 1900s as the film industry grew and producers needed a word for the performers who took the physical risks that actors could not.