jockey

1 of 2

noun

jock·​ey ˈjä-kē 

plural jockeys

1

: a person who rides or drives a horse especially as a professional in a race

2

: a person who operates or works with a specified vehicle, device, object, or material

a bus jockey

pencil jockeys

jockey

2 of 2

verb

jockeyed; jockeying

transitive verb

1

a

: to maneuver or manipulate by adroit or devious means

was jockeyed out of the job

b

: to change the position of by a series of movements

jockey a truck into position

2

a

: to ride or drive (a horse) as a jockey

b

: drive, operate

3

: to deal shrewdly or fraudulently with

intransitive verb

1

: to maneuver for advantage

—often used in the phrase jockey for position

2

: to act as a jockey

Examples of jockey in a Sentence

Verb

There was a lot of political jockeying at the fund-raiser.

The driver carefully jockeyed the truck into a narrow space in the crowded parking lot.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Isaac Burns Murphy, a three-time Kentucky Derby-winning jockey who died in 1896, is buried at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington. —Marina Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 25 July 2024

Trump had previously floated additional debates on Fox News or NBC News, as networks jockey to land at least one of the ratings bonanzas. —Ted Johnson, Deadline, 15 Aug. 2024

Verb

Loading your audio article The fate of a bill that could reshape Silicon Valley’s surging artificial intelligence industry could be decided this week, with everyone from big tech to members of Congress jockeying to influence the outcome. —Ryan MacAsero, The Mercury News, 15 Aug. 2024

The culture of private members clubs may be more British than Italian, but that hasn’t deterred the clubs from jockeying for space in the Italian city. —Samantha Conti, WWD, 22 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Jockey, Scots nickname for John

First Known Use

Noun

1643, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1708, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 3

Phrases Containing jockey

• bench jockey
• desk jockey
• disc jockey
• disk jockey
• jockey club
• jockey for position

Kids Definition

jockey

1 of 2 noun

jock·​ey ˈjäk-ē 

plural jockeys

1

: one who rides a horse especially as a professional in a race

2

: one who operates something

a gas-pump jockey

jockey

2 of 2 verb

jockeyed; jockeying

1

: to ride a horse as a jockey

2

: to move or manage skillfully or cleverly or so as to gain advantage

jockey a truck into position

jockeying for position