everyman

noun

ev·​ery·​man ˈev-rē-ˌman How to pronounce everyman (audio)
often capitalized
: the typical or ordinary person

Examples of everyman in a Sentence

an actor who is seen as the image of everyman despite his superstar status, in his movies the actor is able to play the role of an everyman quite convincingly
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Hartnett’s working-class suburban dad looks like a blandly handsome everyman attending a concert with his 12-year-old daughter, Riley (Ariel Donoghue), and then — bam! Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 7 Aug. 2024 There isn’t a whiff of reality to this story, and Hanks is like an alien trying to play an everyman — he’s rarely seemed so uncomfortable and unconvincing. 36. Tim Grierson, Vulture, 2 Nov. 2024 Hanks is Richard, a postwar kid turned white-collar everyman who gives up dreams of becoming a graphic artist to provide for his family. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 1 Nov. 2024 To read Parker is to get an everyman’s sense of the late-twenties literary scene. Sloane Crosley, The New Yorker, 1 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for everyman 

Word History

Etymology

Everyman, allegorical character in The Summoning of Everyman, 15th century English morality play

First Known Use

1901, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of everyman was in 1901

Dictionary Entries Near everyman

Cite this Entry

“Everyman.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/everyman. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on everyman

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!