plowman: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2 (Very low frequency, specialized/archaic/literary)Literary, historical, archaic; sometimes used in modern branding (e.g., 'Plowman's Lunch').
Quick answer
What does “plowman” mean?
A man whose occupation is plowing.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A man whose occupation is plowing; a farmer or farm laborer.
A literary or historical archetype representing a rustic, honest, hard-working rural life; the central figure in William Langland's 14th-century allegorical poem 'Piers Plowman'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The spelling: British English uses 'ploughman', American English uses 'plowman'. The compound 'ploughman's lunch' (a cold meal of bread, cheese, and pickles) is a well-known British term; in the US, it's a menu item only in explicitly British-style pubs.
Connotations
In the UK, the word is strongly tied to the traditional meal and to a romanticized view of the English countryside. In the US, it carries a more purely historical or literary connotation.
Frequency
More frequent in UK English due to the fixed phrase 'ploughman's lunch'. In both varieties, the standalone word is rare outside specific contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “plowman” in a Sentence
[Determiner] + plowman[Adjective] + plowmanplowman + ['s + Noun]Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually unused.
Academic
Used in historical, literary, or agricultural history texts.
Everyday
Extremely rare, except when referring to the British meal 'a ploughman's lunch'.
Technical
May appear in historical agriculture studies.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “plowman”
- Using 'plowman' to refer to any modern farmer (anachronistic). Misspelling as 'plowmen' when intending the singular.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an archaic term. Modern equivalents would be 'farm worker', 'agricultural machinery operator', or simply 'farmer'.
A 'plowman' specifically performs the act of plowing, often as a laborer. A 'farmer' is the owner or manager of a farm, involved in all aspects of its operation.
The verb 'to plow' is spelled 'plough' in UK English. The noun 'plowman/ploughman' follows the same spelling convention.
Traditionally, no. The term is gendered. The historically accurate term for a woman doing this work would be 'plowwoman', though it is exceedingly rare. Modern usage would avoid the gendered term altogether in favor of neutral terms like 'plow worker'.
A man whose occupation is plowing.
Plowman is usually literary, historical, archaic; sometimes used in modern branding (e.g., 'plowman's lunch'). in register.
Plowman: in British English it is pronounced /ˈplaʊmən/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈplaʊmən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a ploughman's lunch”
- “to live the life of a plowman (i.e., a simple, hardworking rural life)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a man with a PLOW, guiding it through the MANure-rich soil.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE HONEST WORKER IS A PLOWMAN (representing diligence, simplicity, and a connection to the earth).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'plowman' most likely to be used in modern British English?