remittance man: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Low Frequency (Historical)Historical, Literary, Archaic
Quick answer
What does “remittance man” mean?
A person living abroad who depends on regular payments (remittances) sent from their home country, often family money.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person living abroad who depends on regular payments (remittances) sent from their home country, often family money.
Historically refers to a man, typically from a wealthy British family in the 19th/early 20th century, sent or encouraged to live in a British colony or another country (often to avoid scandal or family disgrace) and supported by a regular allowance from home.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term originates from British imperial and social history, so it is far more entrenched in British English lexicon and historical understanding. In American English, it is a learned, historical term.
Connotations
UK: Strong historical/social class connotations (upper-class black sheep). US: Primarily a historical or literary curiosity.
Frequency
UK: Rare, but recognized in historical/literary contexts. US: Extremely rare, primarily encountered in literature about British Empire history.
Grammar
How to Use “remittance man” in a Sentence
The [family/noun] sent him abroad as a remittance man.He lived the life of a remittance man in [location].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “remittance man” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He was effectively remittance-manned to Australia by his family.
- The practice of remittance-manning younger sons was common.
American English
- He was remittance-manned off to the colonies.
- They considered remittance-manning their troublesome relative.
adverb
British English
- He lived remittance-man-like on the fringes of society.
American English
- He existed almost remittance-man-style, funded from afar.
adjective
British English
- He had a remittance-man existence in Kenya.
- The remittance-man lifestyle was one of genteel poverty.
American English
- His was a classic remittance-man story.
- They uncovered letters describing a remittance-man situation.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used in modern business contexts.
Academic
Used in historical, post-colonial, or literary studies discussing British Empire social structures or diaspora.
Everyday
Virtually never used in contemporary everyday conversation.
Technical
Not a technical term.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “remittance man”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “remittance man”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “remittance man”
- Confusing 'remittance man' (recipient) with someone who *sends* remittances.
- Using it to describe modern economic migrants.
- Misspelling as 'remittence man'.
- Using it outside a historical context without explanation.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an archaic, historical term primarily used in discussing late 19th and early 20th-century social history, particularly of the British Empire.
Historically, the term was gendered and almost exclusively applied to men. A woman in a similar situation might have been called an 'exile' or described more specifically.
All remittance men are expatriates, but not all expatriates are remittance men. 'Expatriate' is neutral, while 'remittance man' specifically implies dependency on funds from home and often a social reason for being abroad.
Yes, it typically carries mild to moderate negative connotations of dependency, idleness, and being a social outcast or problem who is paid to remain distant.
A person living abroad who depends on regular payments (remittances) sent from their home country, often family money.
Remittance man is usually historical, literary, archaic in register.
Remittance man: in British English it is pronounced /rɪˈmɪt(ə)ns mæn/, and in American English it is pronounced /rɪˈmɪtəns mæn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To be paid to stay away”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a man in a distant land, anxiously waiting for his REMIT-TANCE (the money sent) from home.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIAL EXILE IS BEING PAID TO STAY AWAY.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary characteristic of a 'remittance man'?