showman

[ shoh-muhn ]

noun

, plural show·men.

1. a person who presents or produces a show, especially of a theatrical nature.
2. a person who is gifted in doing or presenting things theatrically or dramatically:

   He didn't have much voice but was a great showman.

showman

/ ˈʃəʊmən /

noun

1. a person who presents or produces a theatrical show, etc
2. a person skilled at presenting anything in an effective manner

Derived Forms

• ˈshowmanship, noun

Other Words From

• showman·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of showman¹

First recorded in 1725–35; show + -man

Example Sentences

The same year his showman's instincts saw him swim two miles down the River Thames to highlight opposition to Margaret Thatcher's government policy of dumping nuclear waste at sea.

From BBC

Zehme captures the magnificence of Carson the performer, the quintessential showman, who knew exactly what his audiences wanted, where the boundaries were and how to push them ever so lightly.

From Los Angeles Times

After eight years of experience, the Democrats and the responsible political class still have no answer for the showman, carnie, professional wrestling heel and cult leader Donald Trump.

From Salon

While the New Orleans man was the one bringing the needle, Catterall - never a natural showman - cut an altogether more focused figure.

From BBC

In fact, he recently opened the writers’ room on his next project, an Apple TV+ limited series about Las Vegas showman Siegfried & Roy, which is based on the Apple original podcast “Wild Things: Siegfried & Roy.”

From Los Angeles Times