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Meaning & use

groomsperson

noun·Advanced

Last updated

UK/ˈɡruːmz.pɜː.sən/
US/ˈɡruːmz.pɝː.sən/

Meanings

  1. nouncountable

    A gender-neutral word for a person who is getting married, used instead of 'groom' or 'bride'.

    Grammar: Countable: you can say 'a groomsperson' or 'two groomspersons'. It replaces 'groom' or 'bride' when the person's gender is unknown or when they prefer a neutral term.

    Patterns

    • a groomsperson
    • the groomsperson

    The groomsperson stood at the altar, waiting for the ceremony to begin.

    We asked each groomsperson to choose their own outfit for the wedding.

    In the program, they listed the couple as 'groomsperson and bride'.

  2. nouncountable

    A member of a wedding party who attends the person getting married, similar to a bridesmaid or groomsman.

    Grammar: Countable: often used in the plural, 'groomspersons' or 'groomspeople', for several attendants. It is a neutral alternative to 'groomsman' or 'bridesmaid'.

    Patterns

    • one of the groomspersons
    • a groomsperson for someone

    She was a groomsperson for her best friend's wedding last summer.

    The groomspersons wore matching dark blue suits.

    He asked his sister to be a groomsperson in his wedding.

Word forms

pluralgroomspersons
pluralgroomspeople

Common combinations

a groomsperson at a wedding
A groomsperson at a wedding often helps the couple get ready.
choose a groomsperson
They decided to choose a groomsperson instead of a best man.
the groomsperson's speech
The groomsperson's speech made everyone laugh.
stand as a groomsperson
She will stand as a groomsperson during the ceremony.

Synonyms and how they differ

groom
Use 'groom' when the person getting married is male; 'groomsperson' is neutral and does not specify gender.
bride
Use 'bride' when the person getting married is female; 'groomsperson' avoids that gender label.
attendant
A general word for someone who helps at a wedding; 'groomsperson' is more specific and modern.

Word family

groomsman noun
A male attendant at a wedding, usually for the groom.
bridesmaid noun
A female attendant at a wedding, usually for the bride.
groom noun
A man who is getting married.
bride noun
A woman who is getting married.

Commonly confused: groomsperson or groomsman? groomsperson or bridesmaid?

groomsperson vs groomsman

A 'groomsman' is a male attendant, while a 'groomsperson' can be of any gender.

groomsperson vs bridesmaid

A 'bridesmaid' is a female attendant, while a 'groomsperson' is a gender-neutral term.

Practice

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