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.
After three decades of literally and figuratively stepping into Revere’s buckled shoes, Lepage plans on retiring from his day job this summer. Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 June 2026 The quality of the present ultimately does not matter, thanks to Winegar’s day job as a comedy writer and his skill for booking equally funny guests. Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 4 June 2026 The gigs are separate and simultaneous, and the work is not easy, especially when your day job requires more rest and more recovery than that of the average person. Sean Gentille, New York Times, 4 June 2026 Perhaps most retro of all, the Gunmen's day job is running a periodical magazine, printed on actual paper. Richard Edwards, Space.com, 1 June 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 9 Jun. 2026.

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