Workman

Workman is a noun referring to a person who performs manual labor, especially a skilled tradesperson such as a carpenter, plumber, or metalworker. In British English it has historically denoted a person employed to perform physical work. In contemporary writing, many contexts prefer “worker” or “employee,” but “workman” remains common in trades and in fixed phrases such as “an experienced workman” or in the adjective “workmanlike.”

Etymology and related terms: The word derives from work + man, from Old English weorcmann. Related terms include workmanship (skill demonstrated in making something) and workmanlike (characterized by competence and efficiency).

In legal and social history, “workman” appeared in phrases like “workman’s compensation” to refer to compensation for industrial injuries; many jurisdictions have since adopted gender-neutral terms such as “workers’ compensation.”

As a surname: Workman also exists as an English surname, derived from the occupational label itself. It is found in English-speaking countries and among descendants of English emigrants, with distribution reflecting historic patterns of migration and settlement.

See also: worker, tradesman, journeyman.