rodman: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowSpecialized / Informal
Quick answer
What does “rodman” mean?
A person whose job is to hold and move a measuring rod, especially in surveying or construction.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person whose job is to hold and move a measuring rod, especially in surveying or construction.
A player in basketball whose primary role is rebounding (in reference to Dennis Rodman). More rarely, a male who fishes with a rod.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The surveying/technical term is understood in both varieties. The basketball connotation is far more prevalent in American English. The informal noun is almost exclusively American.
Connotations
UK: Primarily technical. US: Strongly associated with basketball and Dennis Rodman; the technical term is known but less common in everyday speech.
Frequency
Significantly higher in American English due to the sports context.
Grammar
How to Use “rodman” in a Sentence
The [surveyor/crew] hired a rodman.He worked as a rodman for the [company/project].Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in specific industries like land development or construction contracting.
Academic
Used in textbooks or papers on surveying, cartography, or civil engineering history.
Everyday
Virtually unused unless discussing basketball history.
Technical
Standard term in surveying and construction for a specific crew role.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “rodman”
- Using it as a general term for any manual labourer. Assuming it is related to 'rod' as in punishment or fishing without context. Confusing 'Rodman' (surname/role) with 'rod man' (a generic phrase).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, the technical surveying role of 'rodman' is largely historical or used only in very specific traditional surveying contexts. Modern equivalents might be 'survey assistant' or 'instrument operator'.
This is an archaic and very uncommon usage. It would likely confuse most listeners. Use 'angler' or 'fisherman' instead.
Dennis Rodman, a famous NBA player in the 1990s, was renowned for his exceptional rebounding. His surname and his defining skill led to the informal use of 'a rodman' to describe a player who excels at rebounding, much like his style.
Yes, the standard plural is 'rodmen'.
A person whose job is to hold and move a measuring rod, especially in surveying or construction.
Rodman is usually specialized / informal in register.
Rodman: in British English it is pronounced /ˈrɒdmən/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈrɑːdmən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a person holding a ROD for a surveyor, a 'rod-man'. Or, picture a basketball player grabbing rebounds like Dennis Rodman, the ultimate 'rodman'.
Conceptual Metaphor
A TOOL/POSITION EXTENSION (The person is defined by the tool they wield - the rod). A SPECIALIST (Defined by a highly specific, often unglamorous, core task).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'rodman' most commonly used in modern American English?