Foreman: In the Workshop and in the Jury Room
A foreman supervises a work crew, and also speaks for a jury. Fore- means in front, which fits both jobs.
A foreman is the worker in charge of a crew, standing between the workforce and management. The courtroom borrowed the word: the foreman of a jury is the one who speaks for the twelve and delivers the verdict. Both are the person out in front.
- A supervisor of workers. *The site foreman.*
- The spokesperson of a jury. *The foreman read the verdict.*
- Forewoman / foreperson — the same roles, named neutrally. *The jury foreperson.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | foreman | The foreman decided. |
| Plural | foremen | Two foremen. |
| Female | forewoman | The forewoman spoke. |
| Neutral | foreperson | The jury foreperson. |
| Related | supervisor | A shift supervisor. |
How it is used in a sentence
- Ask the foreman before you move the scaffolding.Construction use.
- The foreman announced a unanimous verdict.Courtroom use.
- She was elected forewoman on the first day.Juries choose their own.
Words built on fore-
- Forehead — the front of the head
- Foreground — the front of a picture
- Forecast — a throw ahead in time
- Forewarn — warn in advance
- Foresight — seeing what is coming
A compound of *fore*, in front, and *man*. The industrial sense is recorded from the sixteenth century and the jury sense from about the same period.
What does a jury foreman do?
Chairs the discussion, keeps order, and announces the verdict in court. The role carries no extra vote.
Is there a neutral term?
Foreperson is standard in courts, and supervisor or team leader has largely replaced foreman at work.