Definition

A leader or chief of a group, especially in a tribal or traditional setting.

Example

The headman called a meeting to discuss the village's needs.

Conversation

Did you hear about the new headman in the village?

Yeah, I heard he has some interesting ideas.

I wonder how he plans to lead the community.

It'll be exciting to see the changes he brings.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Headman → It is formed from "head" (from Old English "heafod", meaning the upper part of the body or leader) and "man" (from Old English "mann", meaning a person or human being). The word "headman" refers to a person who is the leader or chief of a group.

Memory Tip

Think of the 'head' as the leader and 'man' as a person — a headman is the person who leads.

Visually Confused Words