tradesman

IPA/ˈtreɪdzmən/
IPA/ˈtreɪdzmən/

tradesman — noun

  • tradesmansingular
  • tradesmenplural

1. a worker with training and practical skill who does hands-on jobs such as plumbi

1.nounC1
Definition

a worker with training and practical skill who does hands-on jobs such as plumbing, carpentry, or bricklaying

Example

Christopher called a tradesman to repair the loose kitchen tiles.

call a tradesman to + verb for repair work

After the storm, Sora hired a tradesman to fix the broken gate.

Common collocations
  • local tradesman
  • skilled tradesman
  • reliable tradesman
  • building tradesman
Synonyms
  • skilled worker

    broader and more neutral; not limited to traditional hand trades

  • craftsperson

    emphasises hand skill and careful making; often more artistic in tone

  • contractor

    often refers to someone hired for a project and may include business responsibility

  • artisan

    suggests traditional or decorative handwork rather than general repair jobs

Usage Note

This sense usually refers to a person doing skilled manual work, especially in building or home repair. In modern English, speakers often prefer a more specific job name such as plumber, electrician, or carpenter.

Common Mistakes

The office tradesman sent the monthly sales report.
The office worker sent the monthly sales report.
a tradesman is a skilled manual worker, not a general employee doing desk work.

2. a person whose work is selling goods, especially from a shop or small business t

2.nounC1
Definition

a person whose work is selling goods, especially from a shop or small business they manage themselves

Example

Mayumi's father became a tradesman after opening a small hardware store.

become a tradesman after opening a shop

In the market town, the tradesman sold cloth, soap, and cooking oil.

tradesman + sold + list of goods

Common collocations
  • local tradesman
  • prosperous tradesman
  • small-town tradesman
  • independent tradesman
Synonyms
  • shopkeeper

    focuses on someone who runs a shop, especially a small local one

  • merchant

    more formal and often suggests a larger or older-style trading business

  • retailer

    modern business term for someone selling goods to the public

  • dealer

    often used for someone selling a particular kind of goods such as cars or antiques

Usage Note

This sense is more old-fashioned than the skilled-worker sense and often appears in historical or formal writing. In present-day English, shopkeeper, merchant, or retailer is usually more natural.

Common Mistakes

The tradesman in the department store helped me choose a jacket.
The sales assistant in the department store helped me choose a jacket.
this sense of tradesman usually refers to the owner or business operator, not an employee serving customers.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

These words all describe people with practical ability, but they point to different roles. 'Tradesman' usually suggests someone trained to do hands-on work such as plumbing, carpentry, or electrical repair, often for customers in homes or buildings. 'Skilled worker' is broader and can include factory, technical, or service jobs, so it does not always suggest a traditional trade. 'Craftsperson' puts more attention on careful hand-making and is often used when the work has a creative or traditional side. 'Contractor' often highlights the business role of taking jobs and managing a project. 'Artisan' has the strongest sense of handmade quality or specialist craft. If your sink is leaking, you call a tradesman; if someone makes fine leather bags by hand, artisan sounds more natural.

tradesman ↗skilled workercraftsperson ↗contractor ↗artisan

Common collocations

Phrases

  • work as a tradesman
  • become a tradesman
  • earn a living as a tradesman

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

'Tradesman' was formed in English from 'trade' and 'man'. The older sense of 'man' here is simply 'person', while 'trade' refers to a line of work or buying and selling. Over time, the word came to be used both for a person in a skilled manual trade and for someone running a small business that sells goods. Today it can sound slightly old-fashioned, and many speakers choose tradesperson as a more neutral term.

First known use

1591

1591, in the meaning defined at sense 1