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

Trainer Sanna Neilson won it twice as a jockey and twice as a trainer. —Sean Clancy, Baltimore Sun, 16 Apr. 2026

Each Paddock Paloma is made complete with a custom Herradura jockey silks cocktail pick, inspired by the colors and patterns worn by jockeys. —Molly Burford, Southern Living, 15 Apr. 2026

Verb

New York is widely expected to take a pass rusher, and Ohio State's Arvell Reese and Texas Tech's David Bailey are the two believed to be jockeying to be the choice. —Jim Reineking, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2026

The removal came after the Indian Removal Act was passed and signed by President Andrew Jackson in 1830, as gold was discovered on Cherokee land and white settlers jockeyed for more acreage. —Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 21 Apr. 2026

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

Rhymes for jockey

• blocky
• chalky
• cocky
• gawky
• hockey
• khaki
• machi
• maki
• rocky
• stocky
• talkie
• walkie

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