hotelman: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowArchaic, informal, potentially dated
Quick answer
What does “hotelman” mean?
A man who owns or manages a hotel.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A man who owns or manages a hotel.
An archaic or informal term for a hotel manager or proprietor, now largely superseded by gender-neutral terms. It may carry connotations of a traditional, hands-on, often male figure of authority in a hotel setting.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is archaic in both varieties, but might be encountered slightly more in historical British contexts. American usage moved more decisively to 'hotel manager' or 'General Manager' (GM).
Connotations
In both, it suggests an old-fashioned establishment. In British English, it might imply a traditional, possibly family-run hotel. In American English, it may sound particularly quaint or anachronistic.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in contemporary corpora for both. Virtually absent from current business or hospitality discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “hotelman” in a Sentence
The hotelman greeted us at the desk.He worked as a hotelman for forty years.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hotelman” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- [Not used as a verb]
American English
- [Not used as a verb]
adverb
British English
- [Not used as an adverb]
American English
- [Not used as an adverb]
adjective
British English
- [Not used as an adjective]
American English
- [Not used as an adjective]
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used in modern business contexts; considered outdated.
Academic
Only found in historical analyses of the hospitality industry or literature.
Everyday
Rare; might be used humorously or by older speakers.
Technical
Not a technical term in hospitality management.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hotelman”
- Using it as a modern job title.
- Assuming it is gender-neutral.
- Spelling as 'hotel man' (two words) – though historically it was sometimes written that way, the closed compound is standard for the archaic term.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is considered archaic and has been largely replaced by gender-neutral terms like 'hotel manager' or 'hotelier'.
No, the term is inherently masculine. The historically corresponding term for a woman was 'hotelkeeper' or 'landlady', but these are also dated. 'Hotel manager' is the appropriate modern term for any gender.
A 'hotelman' specifically denotes a male manager/owner. A 'hotelier' is a gender-neutral term for a person who owns or manages a hotel, and it remains in use, especially for owners or those with a more entrepreneurial role.
Using it can sound outdated and may be perceived as non-inclusive because it excludes women from the professional role. It is not standard in contemporary business or hospitality language.
A man who owns or manages a hotel.
Hotelman is usually archaic, informal, potentially dated in register.
Hotelman: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhəʊtlmən/, and in American English it is pronounced /hoʊˈtɛlmən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms specific to this archaic term]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'hotel' + 'man' — a man in charge of a hotel, like a 'policeman' is for law.
Conceptual Metaphor
AUTHORITY IS MASCULINE (reflecting dated social structures).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the MOST appropriate modern synonym for the archaic term 'hotelman' in a professional job advertisement?