jockey

1 of 2

noun

jock·​ey ˈjä-kē How to pronounce jockey (audio)
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
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
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.
Noun
The jockey was Jose Ortiz, one of the best in the world. Jay Posner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Oct. 2025 Musk also responded to reporting from the Wall Street Journal that Musk ally Jared Isaacman may be back in the running to lead the agency, as Duffy jockeys to fold NASA completely under the Transportation Department. Hadas Gold, CNN Money, 21 Oct. 2025
Verb
Democrats are mulling changes to their early presidential calendar, with a number of states jockeying to be considered in the early window. Caroline Vakil, The Hill, 27 Oct. 2025 At a Black Bear party, gotcha reporters and leering industry types jockey to meet her. Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 27 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for jockey

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of jockey was in 1643

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Jockey.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jockey. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

jockey

1 of 2 noun
jock·​ey ˈjäk-ē How to pronounce jockey (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on jockey

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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