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businessman

Etymology and origin of the English word businessman

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Compound
First attested
1803
Ultimate origins
Old English (bisiġ,-nis)English (man)
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
English business
English businessman

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ˈbɪz.nɪs.mən/, /ˈbɪz.nɪs.mæn/[1]

Etymology

It is a compound, from English business + man.[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

A man engaged in business: 1803 in Merriam-Webster, 1826 in Etymonline.[3][2]

Semantic evolution

Man of business is recorded from the 1660s.[2] Woman of business followed in 1838 and businesswoman in 1844.[2]

Timeline

  • 1660s – man of business.[2]
  • 1803 – businessman.[3]
  • 1844 – businesswoman.[2]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. A person, especially a man, engaged in commercial or industrial business, especially as an owner or executive.

Word family

  • agribusinessman

References

  1. ^ Jones, Daniel (2011), Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary, 18th ed., ed. Peter Roach, Jane Setter and John Esling, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
  2. ^ a b c d e f Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ a b Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
Cite this entry

“Businessman.” Etymologically, 17 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/businessman. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·