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.
While immersing themselves in vintage dance, Cathleen and James had their day jobs. Martha Ross, Mercury News, 24 Jan. 2026 The series enabled her to quit her day job working in cybersecurity marketing and make writing her full-time gig. Kelli Skye Fadroski, Oc Register, 20 Jan. 2026 Acting initially came to him as a by-product of his day job modeling—but like many of his fellow travelers, success didn’t happen overnight. Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 20 Jan. 2026 Aside from his day job, Mignot has also strategically put money towards iconic European start-ups including Revolut, Trainline and Personio. Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 16 Jan. 2026 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 26 Jan. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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