What does auctioneer mean?
Word: Auctioneer
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Auctioneer means a person whose job is to run a public sale, where things go to whoever offers the most money.
How do you spell auctioneer?
Syllables: auc - tion - eer
Tricky part: The opening sound is spelt au, which surprises children who expect or or o.
Watch out for: octioneer, awctioneer
Memory tip: Put an August date on the sale poster: both words open with the same two letters.
Auctioneer in a sentence
Example 1: The auctioneer called for the last offer on the old clock.
Example 2: A retired teacher served as auctioneer at our school's charity sale.
Example 3: The auctioneer spoke so fast that I could hardly follow the prices.
Fun Fact
The job title goes back to a Latin word meaning to increase, which fits the sale: the price climbs with each new offer.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Makeup
Choose the suffix that completes the word:
auction____
a) ear
b) eir
c) ier
d) eer
Show answer
d) eer. Engineer and mountaineer take this same job ending.
Mingle-Mangle
Form a meaningful word from the jumbled letters:
reiocneuat
a) mountaineer
b) engineer
c) auctioneer
d) cautioned
Show answer
c) auctioneer. Look for the c, the t and two e's, and notice there is no m, g or d to work with.
Word Cookie
Insert the correct pair of letters to form a word:
au_t_oneer
a) s, i
b) c, e
c) k, i
d) c, i
Show answer
d) c, i. A c comes before the t, and the ti then makes the sh sound, as in station.
Word Cookie
Find the extra letter in the word:
auctionneer
a) t
b) o
c) e
d) n
Show answer
d) n. A single n comes before the ending.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. What usually tells a crowd that an auctioneer has finished selling an item?
a) the beat of a large drum
b) the blast of a loud whistle
c) the ring of a school bell
d) the tap of a small hammer
Show answer
d) the tap of a small hammer
2. Why must an auctioneer watch the room so carefully?
a) Visitors may want some water
b) Chairs may need to be moved
c) Offers can come from any corner
d) The lights may need to be dimmed
Show answer
c) Offers can come from any corner
