salesperson
UK[ˈseɪlzˌpɜː.sən]US[ˈseɪlzˌpɜːr.sən]
n
a person whose job is to sell goods or services, often in a store or by visiting customers
Morpheme Breakdown
sales
person
sales
plural noun
person
noun
Etymology
the word 'salesperson' is a modern english compound noun formed in the late 19th to early 20th century, reflecting the professionalization of commercial roles. its first element, 'sales', originates from the old english 'sala', a term of germanic lineage related to the act of handing over or exchanging goods. the second element, 'person', has a more complex journey, entering english via old french from the latin 'persona', which initially referred to a theatrical mask and later to an individual's legal or social role. the compound logically combines the plural concept of commercial transactions ('sales') with the generic term for an individual ('person'), creating a straightforward occupational title for someone engaged in selling.
Analysis
Structure: sales (plural noun) + person (noun)
sales: from middle english 'sale', from old english 'sala', of germanic origin; related to old norse 'sala'. functions as a plural noun modifying the type of 'person'.
person: from middle english, from old french 'persone', from latin 'persona' meaning 'actor's mask, character, person'. functions as the head noun denoting a human being.
Examples
the salesperson demonstrated the new features of the smartphone.
she worked as a salesperson in a department store during her summer break.
a good salesperson understands the customer's needs and offers suitable solutions.