journeyman
noun
New Yorker
Did you know?
The journey in journeyman refers to a sense of the familiar word not often used anymore: "a day's labor." This sense of journey was first used in the 14th century. When journeyman appeared the following century, it originally referred to a person who, having learned a handicraft or trade through an apprenticeship, worked for daily wages. In the 16th century, journeyman picked up a figurative (and mainly deprecatory) sense; namely, "one who drudges for another." These days, however, journeyman has little to do with drudgery, and lots to do with knowing a trade inside out.
Examples of journeyman in a Sentence
Los Angeles Times, 7 June 2025
Kidd also helped develop Dereck Lively III, Jaden Hardy and Dante Exum — who’d been an NBA journeyman — into valuable playoff contributors.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 6 June 2025
All the Angels had to pitch was Shaun Anderson, Connor Brogdon and Hunter Strickland — journeyman relievers who signed minor-league contracts.
—Sam Blum, New York Times, 19 May 2025
The 12-year Dodger has transitioned into a journeyman to finish his career, with the Angels following a recurring trend of teams out of contention taking flyers on veterans to hope for a return of prospects at the deadline.
—Tyler Small, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for journeyman
Cite this Entry
“Journeyman.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/journeyman. Accessed 16 Jun. 2025.
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journeyman
noun
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