Slangora

roadman

A man who builds or repairs roads.

ˈɹoʊdmənDocumented since 1910s1910sSilenthistoricalHistorical236 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026+ Add a definition
🎵 Music & Lyrics
2 definitions
Community

Etymology timeline

Born ~1913 · 1 year of recorded use
1913Born2018: 1 citationToday, 2026

Seen in the wild

Definitions

UK
#1·Apr 27, 2026UK

A man who builds or repairs roads.

For parents

"roadman" means a man who builds or repairs roads. It is one of many casual words teens pick up from friends, social media, music or sport, and on its own it carries no particular warning. If you hear your teen use it, it is fair to ask what they mean by it in their friend group, since meanings drift quickly. Asking out of curiosity rather than alarm tends to keep the conversation open and useful.

For ESL learners

"roadman" is informal English meaning a man who builds or repairs roads. It is used widely across English varieties. A more formal or neutral equivalent would be something like "a man who builds or repairs roads" expressed in standard vocabulary. A common mistake is to assume "roadman" can replace its standard equivalent in every register; keep it for spoken or casual situations and use the formal form in writing. If you are a B2 or C1 learner, it is useful to recognise this word when you hear or read it, but think carefully about whether the situation really calls for it before using it yourself.

Heard in the wild
  • “Photograph: Alamy [View image in fullscreen](https://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/commentisfree/2018/jul/08/may-i-have-a-word-roadman-street-teen-speak#img-1) A roadman on a bare long wait.”

  • “[Jump to content](https://en.wikipedia.org/?title=Roadman&redirect=no#bodyContent) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Redirect page Redirect to: - [Chav](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chav "Chav") | | | | --- | --- | | | **This page is a [redirect](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Redirect "Wikipedia:Redirect").”

  • “Roadman II")** or discuss these issues on the **[talk page](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Charles_H._Roadman_II "Talk:Charles H.”

Was this helpful?

Comments

UK
#2·Apr 27, 2026UK

(British, chiefly, MLE, slang) A member of a subculture characterised by their clothing (notably puffer jackets and sportswear) as street fashion and the music they listen to, notably drill music.

Was this helpful?

Comments

For specific readers

"roadman" means a man who builds or repairs roads. It is one of many casual words teens pick up from friends, social media, music or sport, and on its own it carries no particular warning. If you hear your teen use it, it is fair to ask what they mean by it in their friend group, since meanings drift quickly. Asking out of curiosity rather than alarm tends to keep the conversation open and useful.

Why is this section here?

Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.

Used in

UK

Have a better definition?

Add your own interpretation of "roadman".

Add definition

🎵About Music & Lyrics slang

How fans, critics, and pop stars talk in 2024–2026 — from Swifties and the BeyHive to brat, Chappell-coded, sad-girl indie, and amapiano.

See all Music & Lyrics slang on Slangora.

Tags

Other words near "roadman" (R)

Browse all slang words starting with R.

Related terms

People also read

Semantically related