ploughman: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Literary, historical, or specialised (culinary).
Quick answer
What does “ploughman” mean?
A man whose job is to plough fields, especially with horses.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A man whose job is to plough fields, especially with horses; a farm labourer.
By extension, it can refer to a simple, honest, rustic person of the countryside. Also used in specific compound terms like 'ploughman's lunch'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The spelling is 'ploughman' in British English and 'plowman' in American English. The term 'ploughman's lunch' is a specifically British culinary term.
Connotations
In both varieties, it is an archaic/historical term. In the US, 'plowman' is even rarer and more literary.
Frequency
Used with low frequency in both, but higher in the UK due to the fixed phrase 'ploughman's lunch'.
Grammar
How to Use “ploughman” in a Sentence
The [ADJ] ploughman [VERB]...A ploughman of [PLACE]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “ploughman” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Not applicable as a verb.
American English
- Not applicable as a verb.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable as an adverb.
American English
- Not applicable as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- He preferred the simple ploughman style of the meal.
American English
- The plowman aesthetic of the decor was deliberate.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in historical, literary, or agricultural history contexts.
Everyday
Almost exclusively in the phrase 'ploughman's lunch' (a meal of bread, cheese, pickles, etc.).
Technical
Not used in modern agronomy; historical agricultural texts only.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “ploughman”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “ploughman”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “ploughman”
- Using it to refer to any modern farmer. Spelling it as 'plowman' in British English contexts.
- Pronouncing the 'gh' as /f/ (like in 'enough').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an archaic/historical term. Modern equivalents would be 'farm worker' or 'agricultural labourer'.
It is a cold meal originating in British pubs, typically consisting of bread (often a crusty loaf), cheese (usually Cheddar), pickled onions, chutney, and sometimes ham, apple, or salad.
UK: ploughman. US: plowman. Both are pronounced the same.
Historically, no; the term is gender-specific. The modern, gender-neutral equivalent would be 'plough worker' or 'farm worker', though the historical term remains 'ploughman'.
A man whose job is to plough fields, especially with horses.
Ploughman is usually literary, historical, or specialised (culinary). in register.
Ploughman: in British English it is pronounced /ˈplaʊ.mən/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈplaʊ.mən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A ploughman's lunch”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a man guiding a PLOUGH through the land. The 'ough' is like in 'plough' itself.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE HONEST WORKER IS A PLOUGHMAN (representing simplicity, hard work, and connection to the earth).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'ploughman' most likely to be used in modern British English?