salesmanship

[ seylz-muhn-ship ]

noun

1. the technique of selling a product:

   They used a promotional gimmick that was the last word in salesmanship.

2. adeptness at creating interest in new ideas, products, methods, etc.:

   The only ingredient lacking in the system was salesmanship.

salesmanship

/ ˈseɪlzmənʃɪp /

noun

1. the technique, skill, or ability of selling
2. the work of a salesman

Word History and Origins

Origin of salesmanship¹

1875–80; salesman + -ship; -manship

Example Sentences

McMeel, a law school dropout once dubbed “Deals McMeel” for his gift for salesmanship, started his syndicate with friend Jim Andrews in 1970.

From Washington Post

This is salesmanship, and of the most ingeniously manipulative kind.

From The Daily Beast

On Wednesday, the president is taking his State of the Union proposals on the road in a bit of campaign-style salesmanship.

From The Daily Beast

It is an unconvincing bit of salesmanship that betrays little perspective on himself, let alone the presence of core convictions.

From The Daily Beast

But it was WMD, of course, that was the principal tool in the administration's salesmanship of the war.

From The Daily Beast

In salesmanship, many subtle psychological principles are involved.

From Project Gutenberg

Such salesmen are no longer categorised with Csar's wife, and the new salesmanship is having its day.

From Project Gutenberg

Then he makes little or much money from salesmanship, according to his mental capacity.

From Project Gutenberg

Salesmanship requires mentality plus a pleasing personality.

From Project Gutenberg

The stage in all its forms is as natural a field to the Thoracic as salesmanship is to the Alimentive.

From Project Gutenberg