traveling salesman

noun

1. a male representative of a business firm who travels in an assigned territory soliciting orders for a company's products or services.

Word History and Origins

Origin of traveling salesman¹

An Americanism dating back to 1875–80

Example Sentences

At its heart is Jack, a traveling salesman played by Billy Crudup who sells condos on the moon — sorry, “lunar residencies” — to those disappointed with life on Earth.

From Seattle Times

Yes, Yankovic did acquire his first accordion from a traveling salesman.

From New York Times

His father was a traveling salesman who later worked for Kellogg’s, and his mother was a homemaker.

From Washington Post

So to use gendered language, scheduling is the classic “traveling salesman” problem—how do you optimize a bunch of different “stops” to form a route?

From Scientific American

Thus, the idea of the traveling salesman Hill swindling the locals into investing in a boys’ marching band, with the intent of skipping town before teaching them a note, held up as well.

From Washington Post