foreperson: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Official, Legal
Quick answer
What does “foreperson” mean?
The leader or presiding member of a jury, or a supervisor of workers, specifically using gender-neutral language.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The leader or presiding member of a jury, or a supervisor of workers, specifically using gender-neutral language.
A person in a leadership or supervisory role, particularly one who coordinates the work of others, especially in a manual or industrial context, or who chairs a deliberative body like a jury. The term is used to avoid gender-specific forms like 'foreman' or 'forewoman'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is similar, driven by institutional policies on inclusive language. It may appear slightly more frequently in American legal and HR contexts due to earlier widespread adoption of gender-neutral terms in official documents.
Connotations
Connotes formality, modernity, and a conscious effort towards gender inclusivity. May be perceived as bureaucratic or politically correct by some.
Frequency
Low frequency in everyday speech; higher frequency in written official communications (court documents, job titles, union agreements).
Grammar
How to Use “foreperson” in a Sentence
[The/Our] foreperson [verb e.g., announced, instructed, reported]to be elected/appointed foreperson (of)Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in HR and job titles to denote a supervisory role in manufacturing, construction, or workshops.
Academic
Rare; may appear in sociological or linguistic papers discussing gender-neutral language.
Everyday
Very rare in casual conversation. Typically encountered in news reports about court trials.
Technical
Standard term in legal proceedings and official industrial relations documents where gender-neutrality is required.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “foreperson”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “foreperson”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “foreperson”
- Using 'foreperson' as a general synonym for 'boss' or 'manager' outside of specific jury or crew-leader contexts.
- Pronouncing it as /fɔːrˈpɜːs(ə)n/ (with stress on 'per') instead of the correct /ˈfɔːˌpɜːs(ə)n/ (with primary stress on 'fore').
- Incorrect plural: 'forepersons' is standard, though 'forepeople' is occasionally used.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, functionally it is the gender-neutral equivalent. It is used where inclusive language is preferred or required, carrying the same core meaning of a leader or supervisor.
The standard plural is 'forepersons'. 'Forepeople' is also occasionally seen but is less common in official documents.
It is highly unusual. Its primary domains are legal (jury) and industrial/construction supervision. Using it for other leadership roles can sound awkward or overly formal.
Stress the first syllable: FOR-per-son. The 'fore' sounds like the word 'for' or 'four', and the 'person' is pronounced normally.
The leader or presiding member of a jury, or a supervisor of workers, specifically using gender-neutral language.
Foreperson is usually formal, official, legal in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To take the foreperson's chair”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the person who stands FOREmost, the FIRST PERSON in charge of the group.
Conceptual Metaphor
LEADERSHIP IS BEING AT THE FRONT (fore-).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'foreperson' MOST specifically and correctly used?