Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun The conduct and attitude of salespeople, especially when considered commendable, as in selling goods or services effectively.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun The skills and knowledge of how to sell.
  • noun UK, marketing, business A position as salesman.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun skill in selling; skill in persuading people to buy

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

salesman +‎ -ship

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Examples

  • Personal diplomacy may be one of George Bush's great strengths as President; car salesmanship is not!

    The Auto Industry: Structuring for Survival in the Global Market of the '90s 1992

  • Our concepts tend to revolve around the notion of salesmanship, that is, pressing a "product" which has been manufactured elsewhere, onto a "market" that may be resistant to it.

    1. How Not to Develop a Stove 1984

  • For, the decisive argument against all the techniques that play with works of art as if they were objects of salesmanship is that there is no substitute for the pleasures of discovery.

    Exhibitionship 1964

  • Thus while agricultural products and raw materials from our mines and forests continue to dominate the list of goods shipped to world markets, aggressive salesmanship is demonstrating that it is possible to sell an increasing variety of manufactured goods abroad.

    Looking Ahead 1964

  • All of this shows that salesmanship is still one of the prime motivating forces in our economic life, a lesson that Mr. Ballon probably learned at Harvard.

    Mobilizing our Ideas and Ideals 1951

  • I thought it was really a terrific piece of political salesmanship, which is what you're supposed to be doing in a campaign.

    CNN Transcript Oct 30, 2008 2008

  • One cannot make the most effective use of his capabilities, he cannot create and control his chances to succeed, until he develops skill in salesmanship, which is necessary to market his qualifications profitably.

    Certain Success Norval A. Hawkins

  • "Refined selling," some of the girls call the salesmanship which they learn in Mrs. Prince's class.

    The Women of Tomorrow 1910

  • And by "salesmanship," I mean the ethical, professional, kind -- NOT the kind of salesmanship that has lead to the popular notion of the real estate professional

    Inman News - The first word in real estate. 2009

  • Some intermediaries justify this by providing benefits, such as salesmanship, advertising or transport.

    The Health Insurance Mafia Jonathan Kellerman 2008

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