day job

noun

: one's regular employment as contrasted with an occasional, secondary, or coveted job

Examples of day job in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In quintessential Midwest fashion, Mitch didn’t even quit his day job at the pizzeria until two weeks into the sessions. Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 12 Sep. 2025 The best candidates were already driving industry transformation as part of their day jobs—whether in supply chain optimization, strategic inventory management or sustainability. Heather Rosenow, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025 In his day job, Qadeer works in tech sales, an industry that is facing cuts to its workforce. Ramishah Maruf, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2025 The recipe was a family secret until 1998, when brothers and co-owners Trey and Will Sims quit their day jobs to start a pickle company with their friend Andy Anderson. Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 4 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for day job

Word History

First Known Use

1971, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of day job was in 1971

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Cite this Entry

“Day job.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/day%20job. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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