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-person

Gender-neutral alternative to ‘man’ in compounds.

English person.

Terms such as craftsperson, chairperson, salesperson, or spokesperson are sometimes used to avoid the implied sexism of terms in ‑man (chairman, spokesman). These have not achieved general acceptance, as they are often seen as clumsy or unnecessary. Other terms are frequently sought instead, such as firefighter for fireman, or fresher in place of freshman. For a note on the compound form ‑personship, see ‑manship.

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