A serviceman is someone who serves in their country's military, such as the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, or Coast Guard. When newspapers report that servicemen and servicewomen are deployed overseas, they're talking about military personnel who've been sent to serve far from home.

The word traditionally referred to men in the military, though today people often use more inclusive terms like service member or simply say someone in the military. You might hear older relatives talk about a grandfather who was a serviceman during World War II, meaning he served in the armed forces during that conflict.

The word can also describe someone who repairs or maintains equipment, like a washing machine serviceman who fixes broken appliances. In this context, it means someone whose job involves servicing (maintaining or repairing) things, though this usage is becoming less common as people shift to terms like repair technician or service technician.

When you see serviceman in books or news stories about military history, it's referring to people who served their country by joining the armed forces, often making significant sacrifices and facing considerable danger to protect others.