A skilled worker whose job is to fix and maintain broken machines, appliances, or equipment.
A compound word combining 'repair' (from Latin 'reparare,' to prepare again or restore) and 'man.' The term became common in the 20th century as modern machinery required specialized maintenance workers.
The 'repair culture' is dying—many modern products are designed to be replaced rather than fixed, but in the 1950s, the repairman was a household hero! This shift reveals how our throwaway economy is changing not just what words mean, but what jobs exist.
Default masculine form obscures women's long history in repair trades and technical work. Gendered job titles were institutionalized in 20th-century occupational segregation.
Use 'repairer,' 'technician,' or 'repair specialist' to reflect the gender-diverse reality of the profession.
["repairer","technician","repair specialist","service technician"]
Women have led innovations in mechanical and electrical repair since the early 1900s; gendered terminology historically erased their contributions.
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