What does "dutchman" mean?
A Dutch man; a man from the Netherlands.
Dutchman
/ˈdʌt͡ʃmən/ name, noun
name, noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A Dutch man; a man from the Netherlands.
- Grammar: dutchman is listed as name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: dutch, dutch person, dutch validated form, dutchmen.
- Useful contrasts: foreigner, hole, non-Dutch person.
- Usage evidence: An Englishman, a Belgian and a Dutchman enter a pub and sit down at the counter. Says the barkeeper, "Wait a minute, is this a joke or what?"
How to use "dutchman"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "dutchman" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "dutchman" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "dutchman" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "dutchman" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "dutchman" is acting as name, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "dutch" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "dutchman", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A Dutch man; a man from the Netherlands.
"About ten months ago a report reached my ears that a Dutchman had constructed a telescope, by the aid of which visible objects, although at a great distance from the eye of the observer, were seen distinctly as if near; […]"
- 2 A piece of wood or stone used to repair a larger piece, shaped such that it fills as exactly as possible a void or cavity that is to be repaired.
- 3 a male native or inhabitant of Holland wordnet
- 4 A man of Dutch descent.
- 5 A flaw or void repaired with such a piece.
Show 6 more definitions
- 6 A male Pennsylvania German. US
- 7 A cloth strip attached to a flat to conceal a joint.
- 8 A male German. archaic, dated
"[…]There have been at least four legendary Lost Dutchman's gold mines in the American West, including the famed Superstition mine of Jacob Waltz."
- 9 Ellipsis of Flying Dutchman (“a ghost ship”). abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis
- 10 A male white Afrikaner. South-Africa, derogatory
"[…]the tyranny of the rockspiders, crunchies, hairybacks, ropes, and bloody Dutchmen. Those were the names by which we referred to Afrikaners."
- 11 Ellipsis of Flying Dutchman, a ghost ship. abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis
Proper Noun
- 1 A nickname for President Franklin D. Roosevelt. US
"President Roosevelt called a press conference in the Oval Office. [...] when asked where the Billys had originated, the Dutchman smiled broadly [...]."
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"An Englishman, a Belgian and a Dutchman enter a pub and sit down at the counter. Says the barkeeper, "Wait a minute, is this a joke or what?""
Common questions
What is a synonym for "dutchman"?
Common synonyms include: dutch, dutch person, dutch validated form, dutchmen, hollander, inlay.
How do you use "dutchman" in a sentence?
An Englishman, a Belgian and a Dutchman enter a pub and sit down at the counter. Says the barkeeper, "Wait a minute, is this a joke or what?"
How do you pronounce "dutchman"?
Pronounced /ˈdʌt͡ʃmən/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English Ducheman; equivalent to Dutch + -man.
Etymology 2
From Dutchman. Attested mainly in the US from the late 19th century.