best man

noun

: the principal groomsman at a wedding

Examples of best man in a Sentence

The groom asked his brother to be his best man and the bride asked her sister to be her maid of honor.
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.
The Naples native loved hanging out with the cast, which included Miami’s own Marcello Hernandez, who plays the wisecracking best man. — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 29 July 2026 Meanwhile, Pitt’s brother, Doug Pitt, was his best man, and his father acted as a second groomsman. — Katie Mather, PEOPLE, 29 July 2026 After their two-day wedding celebration, the couple reportedly enjoyed some downtime in Montana with Travis’s older brother Jason—who served as his best man—and his wife Kylie before heading to California. — Lara Walsh, InStyle, 11 July 2026 Rather than bridesmaids or groomsmen, Taylor Swift's brother Austin Swift was her man of honor and Jason Kelce was Travis Kelce's best man. — Liza Esquibias, USA Today, 10 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for best man

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1782, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of best man was circa 1782

Rhymes for best man

See All Rhymes for best man

Browse Nearby Words

best-laid plans
best man
bestness
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Best man.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/best%20man. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on best man

Nglish: Translation of best man for Spanish Speakers

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