Salesman Meaning
/sˈeɪlzmən/Definition, CEFR level A2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounA man whose job it is to sell things, either in a shop / store or elsewhere.
Sentence Examples
The aggressive salesman urged me to sign the contract right away.
Eventually the salesman persuaded me to buy the expensive machine.
CEFR Practice Quiz
After showing the customer many options, the helpful ____ successfully closed the deal.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The persistent ____ knocked on every door in the street trying to sell insurance policies.
Word Origin & History
Etymology tree English sales Proto-Indo-European *mon- Proto-Germanic *mann- Proto-West Germanic *mann Old English mann Middle English man Middle English -man English -man English salesman From sales + -man.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"There was an auto salesman in here yesterday that claimed you could always tell a fellow's class by the car he drove, but I says to him, 'Don't be silly,' I says; 'the wisenheimers grab a look at a fellow's nails when they want to tell if he's a tin-horn or a real gent!"'"
— 1922, Sinclair Lewis, “24”, in Babbitt:
"Would you say it was fair to describe these salesmen that were in your crews as dynamiters, or suede shoe salesmen?"
— 1954, United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Banking and Currency. Subcommittee on Housing and Urban Affairs, FHA Investigation: Hearings, page 2397:
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CEFR Practice Quiz
After showing the customer many options, the helpful ____ successfully closed the deal.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The persistent ____ knocked on every door in the street trying to sell insurance policies.