best man

Meanings

1. 1nounsingular

   A man chosen by a groom to help him at his wedding, often organizing the event and giving a speech.

   Grammar: Usually used with 'the' and treated as one role: He was the best man.

   Patterns

   • be someone's best man
   • ask someone to be best man
   • the best man's speech

   My brother asked me to be his best man at his wedding in June.

   The best man stood beside the groom during the ceremony.

   As best man, he gave a funny speech at the reception.

2. 2nounsingularfigurative

   A close male friend who supports a man in a difficult situation or important event.

   Grammar: Used figuratively to describe loyal support, not a wedding role.

   Patterns

   • be someone's best man
   • stand by someone as their best man

   When he started his business, his old friend was his best man.

   She said her father had always been her best man in hard times.

Common combinations

be someone's best man

He asked his cousin to be his best man.

the best man's speech

Everyone laughed at the best man's speech.

choose a best man

The groom chose a best man who knew him well.

stand next to the best man

The bride's sister stood next to the best man.

Synonyms and how they differ

groomsman

A more general word for any man in the groom's wedding party; the best man is the main one.

supporter

Describes someone who helps and encourages you, but not the specific wedding role.

Word family

bridesmaid noun

A woman who helps the bride at a wedding, the female equivalent role.

maid of honor noun

The main female attendant of the bride, similar to the best man for the groom.

Commonly confused: best man or groom? best man or bridesmaid?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “best man”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Explore more words