journal

1 of 2

noun

jour·​nal ˈjər-nᵊl How to pronounce journal (audio)
1
a
: a daily newspaper
usually used in titles
The Wall Street Journal
b
: a periodical dealing especially with matters of current interest
an academic journal
often used in titles
The Journal of the American Medical Association
2
a
: a record of experiences, ideas, or reflections kept regularly for private use : diary
b
: a record of current transactions
especially : a book of original entry in double-entry bookkeeping
c
: an account of day-to-day events
d
: a record of transactions kept by a deliberative or legislative body
3
: the part of a rotating shaft, axle, roll, or spindle that turns in a bearing

journal

2 of 2

verb

journaled; journaling; journals

transitive + intransitive

: to keep a personal journal : to enter or record daily thoughts, experiences, etc., in a journal
As a kid, I journaled about everything from boys to bad haircuts.Redbook
The principal at the school says since students began journaling last year, poor behavior reports have dropped 40 percent.Stephanie Stahl
The students engaged in several process discussions to reflect on their service-learning projects, and they journaled their reactions.Roeper Review
journaler noun
plural journalers
You don't have to be a writer to be a journaler, but journal keeping will make you a writer anyway. Robert Moss
journaling noun
Change your attitude about being awake at night. Savor this time alone for journaling or personal reflection. Self Healing
First on the agenda for this crew: a process dieticians call journaling, which involves jotting down every single thing eaten for several days … Family Circle

Examples of journal in a Sentence

Noun I've been keeping a journal for several years. She records her dreams in a journal.
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
Maintaining a success journal can be powerful in achieving long-term growth and success. David Nour, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024 The results were published this week in the journal Nature. Geoff Brumfiel, NPR, 27 Nov. 2024
Verb
Host a Halloween movie night with friends while cuddled up with our favorite pumpkin pillows, or take the night to yourself to journal or make a fall bucket list. Claire Hoppe, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Sep. 2024 Their connection over DeGeneres follows them into adulthood; Lily continues to journal as though writing letters to DeGeneres and later gives her daughter the middle name Dory. Cady Lang, TIME, 9 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for journal 

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, service book containing the day hours, from Anglo-French jurnal, from jurnal, adjective, daily, from Latin diurnalis, from diurnus of the day, from dies day — more at deity

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2b

Verb

1803, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of journal was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near journal

Cite this Entry

“Journal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/journal. Accessed 2 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

journal

noun
jour·​nal ˈjərn-ᵊl How to pronounce journal (audio)
1
a
: a brief account of daily events : diary
b
: a record of the happenings of a conference or a legislative body
2
a
: a daily newspaper
b
: a magazine that reports on things of special interest to a particular group
Etymology

Noun

Middle English journal "a religious service book containing the day hours," from early French jurnal (same meaning), from jurnal (adjective) "daily," derived from Latin diurnus "of the day, daily," from dies "day" — related to diary, journey see Word History at journey

More from Merriam-Webster on journal

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