Definition

A student or athlete who has received a letter, usually for excelling in a sport or activity at school.

Example

He was proud to be a letterman after winning the championship with his team.

Conversation

Did you see John got his letterman jacket this week?

Yeah, I heard he was really excited about it.

I can't believe how hard he worked for that letterman status.

He definitely deserves it; he's been training nonstop!

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

The word 'letterman' is formed from 'letter' (from Old French *lettre*, meaning a written character or symbol) and 'man' (from Old English *mann*, meaning a person). A letterman is a person associated with letters, often referring to someone who has earned a letter in a sport or academic achievement.

Memory Tip

Think of a 'letter' as a written character and 'man' as a person — a letterman is someone recognized for their achievements in letters or sports.

Visually Confused Words