workingman
C1Formal, somewhat dated. Often found in political, historical, sociological, or journalistic contexts.
Definition
Meaning
A man who does manual or industrial work for wages, typically with his hands.
An adult male member of the laboring class, often implying a person of modest income who earns a living through physical or skilled trade work, as opposed to a professional, manager, or business owner. It can carry connotations of diligence, practicality, and being part of the traditional industrial workforce.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often used as a collective noun ("the workingman") to refer to the working class as a social/political group. The compound form (workingman) is common, but the spaced form (working man) is also acceptable. Its use has declined as the workforce has diversified, with more gender-neutral terms like 'worker' or 'blue-collar worker' being preferred in modern contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is understood in both, but is slightly more common in American political and historical discourse (e.g., 'the common workingman'). In the UK, 'working man' or the collective 'working class' are more typical.
Connotations
In both varieties, it connotes traditional industrial labor, reliability, and the 'salt of the earth.' In American usage, it can have a stronger political/electoral connotation (e.g., appealing to the workingman's vote).
Frequency
Low-to-medium frequency in historical/contextual use. Rare in casual contemporary speech.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[determiner] + workingman + [verb phrase] (e.g., The average workingman struggles to make ends meet.)adjective + workingman (e.g., an honest workingman)workingman + 's + noun (e.g., a workingman's budget)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A workingman's handshake (a firm, rough handshake)”
- “A workingman's lunch (a simple, hearty meal)”
- “From workingman to millionaire (a rags-to-riches story)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might appear in HR or union contexts discussing historical workforce composition.
Academic
Common in sociology, history, and political science texts discussing class structures, labor history, or industrialization.
Everyday
Very rare in casual conversation. 'Worker' or 'guy who works in [factory]' is used instead.
Technical
Not a technical term. Used descriptively in fields like labor economics or social history.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He is a workingman.
- My grandfather was a workingman in a car factory.
- The politician promised policies that would benefit the average workingman and his family.
- The novel offers a poignant portrayal of the workingman's struggle for dignity during the Industrial Revolution, highlighting the gap between labor and capital.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a MAN WORKING with tools in a factory. The word combines his action (WORKING) and his identity (MAN).
Conceptual Metaphor
THE WORKINGMAN IS THE BACKBONE OF THE NATION (foundation/support). THE WORKINGMAN IS A MACHINE (reliable, productive, but can be worn out).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid directly translating as "рабочий человек" (awkward). Use "рабочий" (blue-collar worker) or "трудящийся" (laborer). The gendered aspect (-man) is less critical in this fixed English term than the direct translation implies.
- Do not confuse with "workaholic" (трудоголик). "Workingman" is about social class, not addiction to work.
Common Mistakes
- Using it to refer to any man who has a job (e.g., a CEO). It specifically implies manual/trade labor.
- Using it in a modern, gender-inclusive context without noting its dated nature.
- Misspelling as two words ('working man') is common but generally acceptable; the closed compound is more traditional.
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the term 'workingman' be LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is considered dated and gender-specific. In modern, inclusive language, terms like 'worker,' 'blue-collar worker,' or 'laborer' are preferred when the gender is not specified or relevant.
'Workingman' refers to an individual male laborer. 'Working class' is a broader sociological term for a social group defined by economic and occupational status, encompassing people of all genders in manual or industrial jobs.
No, the term is inherently gendered. The female equivalent is 'working woman,' though this term often has different connotations (frequently referring to any woman employed outside the home, not necessarily manual labor). For a woman in manual labor, 'female worker' or specific job titles are used.
Both 'workingman' (closed compound) and 'working man' (open) are found. The closed compound is more traditional and often used when referring to the archetype or social category. The open form is more literal (a man who is working).