letterman: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Informal, especially American cultural/sports context.
Quick answer
What does “letterman” mean?
A male student at a high school or university in the US who earns a varsity sports letter (an award).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A male student at a high school or university in the US who earns a varsity sports letter (an award).
A person who has achieved distinction in a particular competitive field, often used to imply a history of success and recognition.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is almost exclusively American. The British school/university system does not have an equivalent varsity letter award system, so the concept and term are largely absent.
Connotations
In the US: evokes images of high school popularity, athleticism, and a certain social status. It can have positive (hard-working athlete) or slightly negative/jock stereotype connotations depending on context. In the UK: generally unknown or recognized only as an American cultural import.
Frequency
High frequency in US sports/educational contexts; extremely low to zero in British English.
Grammar
How to Use “letterman” in a Sentence
[be/become] a letterman in [sport][adjective] lettermanletterman for [team/school]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “letterman” in a Sentence
adjective
American English
- He wore his old letterman jacket to the reunion.
- The letterman award ceremony is next week.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might be used metaphorically: 'He's a real sales letterman, hitting his targets every quarter.'
Academic
Used in historical/sociological papers discussing American school culture and sports.
Everyday
Common in US conversations about high school/college experiences. Uncommon elsewhere.
Technical
Used in official US school athletic department records and award criteria.
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “letterman”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “letterman”
- Using it to refer to any athlete (must be one who earned the specific varsity letter award).
- Using it in a UK context where the concept doesn't exist.
- Assuming it applies equally to female athletes without specification.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Traditionally, the term referred to males. While sometimes used generically, the more precise terms are 'letterwinner' or specifying the sport (e.g., 'she was a letterman in track').
Essentially, yes. A 'letterman jacket' or 'varsity jacket' is the garment awarded to a letterman, typically featuring the school letter.
No. Students in any grade can become lettermen if they meet the team's performance and participation criteria set by the school.
Primarily for sports. Some schools may extend the 'letter' award system to activities like band or debate, but the recipient would then be a 'band letterman' or 'debate letterman', still using the core term.
A male student at a high school or university in the US who earns a varsity sports letter (an award).
Letterman is usually informal, especially american cultural/sports context. in register.
Letterman: in British English it is pronounced /ˈlɛtəmən/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈlɛd̬ɚmən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a LETTER on a MAN's jacket — that's a 'letterman', an athlete who earned his school's award letter.
Conceptual Metaphor
ACHIEVEMENT IS A BADGE (the varsity letter is a tangible symbol of athletic success).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'letterman' MOST appropriately used?