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
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
2 July 2026
Phillies reliever Jonathan Bowlan pitched out of trouble to quell the Pirates in the eighth, and 34-year-old journeyman Lou Trivino, promoted from Triple-A Lehigh Valley earlier in the day, closed the Pirates out.
—
CBS News,
1 July 2026
Davis was a journeyman who was primarily a backup in a 12-year career that got him roughly $48 million in gross salary.
—
Ed White,
Twin Cities,
29 June 2026
Last year’s opportunity was lost, but this season presents a clean slate, and new hope for him and most of Miami’s roster, which is filled with young, unproven starters and NFL journeymen looking to find solid footing with a team starting over, which is indeed the Dolphins.
—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
26 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for journeyman
Cite this Entry
“Journeyman.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/journeyman. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
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journeyman
noun
