headman

noun

head·​man
Synonyms of headmannext
1
a
ˈhed-ˈman How to pronounce headman (audio) : foreman, overseer
b
ˈhed-ˈman How to pronounce headman (audio)
-ˌman
 : a lesser chief of a primitive community
2
ˈhed-mən How to pronounce headman (audio) : headsman

Synonyms of headman

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Examples of headman in a Sentence

as headman at the newspaper 20 years ago, he hired the then-promising young reporter who won this year's Pulitzer Prize for investigative reporting
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The headman is compromised, an NGO in the area is pursuing its own politics, and the man running the mine discloses that Nengsal was never on the books, leaving workers like him invisible on their own land. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026 Then, in 2023, Bhumjaithai secured control of the powerful Ministry of Interior, which oversees local governance in Thailand, including more than 70,000 village headmen. — Duncan McCargo, Foreign Affairs, 24 Aug. 2026 According to Jackson’s account, Fong said her father, the village headman, removed large pieces of wreckage from the crash site and organized the burial of McKinney’s body right there. — Kocha Olarn, CNN Money, 1 July 2026 While Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan and Arizona Wildcats headman Tommy Lloyd are the betting favorites to take over for Davis in Chapel Hill, there is a third name that is gaining momentum. — Tyler Erzberger, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for headman

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of headman was before the 12th century

Rhymes for headman

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Browse Nearby Words

head maggot
headman
headmark
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Cite this Entry

“Headman.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/headman. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

headman

noun
head·​man ˈhed-ˈman How to pronounce headman (audio)
-ˌman
: one who is a leader (as of a tribe, clan, or village) : chief
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