foreman
pronunciation
How to pronounce foreman in British English:
UK [ˈfɔ:mən]
How to pronounce foreman in American English:
US [ˈfɔrmən]
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- Noun:
- a person who exercises control over workers
- a man who is foreperson of a jury
Word Origin
- foreman (n.)
- early 13c., "a leader," from fore- + man (n.). From 1530s as "principal juror;" 1570s in the sense of "principal workman." Similar formation in Dutch voorman, German Vormann, Danish formand. Also in 17c., a slang word for "penis." Fem. form forewoman is from 1709, originally of a jury; forelady is from 1867 in reference to juries, 1888 of shops, American English.
Synonym
Example
- 1. He actually took me to meet his foreman .
- 2. A foreman immediately roused 8000 workers inside the company 's dormitories , according to the executive .
- 3. The foreman would have known his place . There was no point in complaining to anyone .
- 4. As we waited for the ceremony to begin , a foreman standing beside me barked at workers still visible on the construction site .
- 5. A site foreman had ten very lazy men working for him , so one day he decided to trick them into doing some work for a change .