What is the Feminine Gender of a Milkman? (Milkman Opposite Gender)

Milkman vs. Milkwoman: A Clear Comparison

This table explains these traditional job titles.

What is a Milkman?

A milkman is a man whose job is to delivers milk and other dairy products to customers' homes, usually in the early morning.

What is a Milkwoman?

A milkwoman is the feminine counterpart of a milkman. She is a woman whose job is to deliver milk and dairy products to homes.

It is important not to confuse this role with that of a 'milkmaid'. See the section below for a clear explanation of the difference.

Clarifying the Terms: Milkwoman vs. Milkmaid

While the words sound similar, there is a traditional difference between a milkwoman and a milkmaid.

• A Milkwoman is a woman whose job is to deliver milk to customers' homes. She is the direct female counterpart to a milkman.
• A Milkmaid traditionally refers to a woman or girl who works on a farm milking cows. While this term is sometimes used informally to mean a woman who delivers milk, its primary and historical meaning is different.

For the opposite gender of a milkman, milkwoman is the most precise term.

A Changing Job Role

The job of a milkman or milkwoman is a traditional one that has become much less common today because most people buy milk from supermarkets. While the titles are specific to this role, they are a great example of how compound words (milk + man/woman) were used for jobs.