Definition

Noun: 1. A person employed to collect and dispose of household refuse: A dustman is a worker whose job is to collect garbage or trash from homes and businesses, typically as part of a municipal or private waste collection service.

Usage

The word "dustman" is primarily used in British English. It refers to the occupation itself or to an individual who performs this work. It is a formal job title within the waste management industry.

Examples

• The dustman comes to collect the bins every Tuesday morning.
• He has worked as a dustman for the city council for over ten years.
• Please make sure your rubbish is ready for the dustman.

Advanced Usage

• The term can be used in a historical or societal context to discuss changes in public services, labor conditions, or urban living.
  • The introduction of wheelie bins changed the daily routine of the dustman.

Variants and Related Words

• Dustmen (plural): The standard plural form.
• Refuse collector: A more formal synonym commonly used in official contexts.
• Bin man (noun, informal): A common informal synonym in British English.
• Garbage collector (noun, AmE): The common American English equivalent.
• Waste collector (noun): A modern, neutral term used in the industry.
• Sanitation worker (noun): A broader, more formal American English term encompassing various roles in waste management and public cleanliness.

Synonyms

• Refuse collector
• Garbage collector (AmE)
• Trash collector (AmE)
• Bin man (BrE, informal)

Notes on Meaning

• The "dust" in "dustman" historically referred to ash and cinders from coal fires, which formed a significant part of household waste. The term has persisted even as the composition of refuse has changed.
• In modern usage, it specifically denotes the person who collects the waste, not the vehicle or the system.

Noun

1. someone employed to collect and dispose of refuse