What does "sherman" mean?
A Sherman tank, main Allied battle tank in World War II.
Sherman
/ˈʃɜː(ɹ)mən/ name, noun, slang
name, noun, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A Sherman tank, main Allied battle tank in World War II.
- Grammar: sherman is listed as name, noun, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: ancestral name, city, commander, family name.
- Useful contrasts: civilian, countryside, given name.
- Usage evidence: Sherman met with Johnston a few days later.
How to use "sherman"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "sherman" 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 "sherman" 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 "sherman" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "sherman" 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 "sherman" is acting as name, noun, slang 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 "ancestral name" 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 "sherman", 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 Sherman tank, main Allied battle tank in World War II. historical
- 2 An official refusal to serve in public office or similar; a Shermanesque statement. informal
"A lot of photographers nominated the printers, who promptly pulled a Sherman. Granted, some printers, typically of the smaller variety or those who had existing departments, answered their party's call. More did not."
Proper Noun
- 1 An English surname originating as an occupation for a sheep-shearer.
- 2 Any of a number of places in the United States of America:; A town in Fairfield County, Connecticut.
- 3 An American surname from German derived from the German Schuermann.
- 4 Any of a number of places in the United States of America:; A village in Sangamon County, Illinois.
- 5 An Ashkenazic Jewish occupational surname for a tailor.
Show 20 more definitions
- 6 Any of a number of places in the United States of America:; An unincorporated community in Cherokee County, Kansas.
- 7 A male given name transferred from the surname.
- 8 Any of a number of places in the United States of America:; An unincorporated community in Grant County, Kentucky.
- 9 Any of a number of places in the United States of America:; A town in Aroostook County, Maine.
- 10 Any of a number of places in the United States of America:; An unincorporated community in Wexford County, Michigan.
- 11 Any of a number of places in the United States of America:; An unincorporated community in McLeod County, Minnesota.
- 12 Any of a number of places in the United States of America:; A town in Lee County, Pontotoc County and Union County, Mississippi.
- 13 Any of a number of places in the United States of America:; An unincorporated community in St. Louis County, Missouri.
- 14 Any of a number of places in the United States of America:; An unincorporated community in Grant County, New Mexico.
- 15 Any of a number of places in the United States of America:; A town and village in Chautauqua County, New York.
- 16 Any of a number of places in the United States of America:; A minor town in Minnehaha County, South Dakota.
- 17 Any of a number of places in the United States of America:; A city, the county seat of Grayson County, Texas.
- 18 Any of a number of places in the United States of America:; A ghost town in Lincoln County, Washington.
- 19 Any of a number of places in the United States of America:; An unincorporated community in Jackson County, West Virginia.
- 20 Any of a number of places in the United States of America:; A town in Clark County, Wisconsin.
- 21 Any of a number of places in the United States of America:; A town in Dunn County, Wisconsin.
- 22 Any of a number of places in the United States of America:; A town in Iron County, Wisconsin.
- 23 Any of a number of places in the United States of America:; A town in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin.
- 24 Any of a number of places in the United States of America:; A ghost town in Albany County, Wyoming.
- 25 Any of a number of places in the United States of America:; A number of townships in the United States, listed under Sherman Township.
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"Sherman met with Johnston a few days later."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "sherman"?
Common synonyms include: ancestral name, city, commander, family name, general, historical figure.
How do you use "sherman" in a sentence?
Sherman met with Johnston a few days later.
How do you pronounce "sherman"?
Pronounced /ˈʃɜː(ɹ)mən/.
Etymology
Sense 1: From Middle English schereman, scherman; equivalent to shear + -man.