foreman

noun

fore·​man ˈfȯr-mən 

: a first or chief person: such as

a

: a member of a jury who acts as chairman and spokesman

b(1)

: a chief and often specially trained worker who works with and usually leads a gang or crew

(2)

: a person in charge of a group of workers, a particular operation, or a section of a plant

foremanship

ˈfȯr-mən-ˌship 

noun

Synonyms

• boss
• boss man
• captain
• chief
• head
• headman
• helmsman
• honcho
• jefe
• kingpin
• leader
• master
• taskmaster

Examples of foreman in a Sentence

asked the shift foreman if he could take a break

Recent Examples on the Web

By Wednesday evening, the jury’s foreman was having an Old Style and a cigarette in front of his Beverly home, snowflakes piling up on his head and in his mustache. —Ray Long, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2025

Well, the foreman thought there was some life left and administered a dose of la grippe medicine. —Contributed Content, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025

On a jury, the foreman is tasked with keeping the jurors focused and announces the verdict to the court after a decision is reached. —Zack Sharf, Variety, 27 Jan. 2025

Ancillary costs—for concrete blocks to support the jumper bridge, equipment rental, and casual labor supplementing foreman Bill’s—might approach $100,000. —Gary Greenberg, Harper's Magazine, 23 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for foreman

• longshoreman
• longshoremen
• metformin
• corpsman
• foremen
• mormon
• warman

Kids Definition

foreman

noun

fore·​man ˈfōr-mən 

ˈfȯr-

1

: a member of a jury who is the leader

2

: a person in charge of a group of workers

Legal Definition

foreman

noun

fore·​man

plural foremen

: a male or female member of a jury who acts as the leader and speaks for the jury