journeyman
noun
New Yorker
Did you know?
The journey in journeyman refers to a sense of the familiar word not often used anymore: "a day's labor." This sense of journey was first used in the 14th century. When journeyman appeared the following century, it originally referred to a person who, having learned a handicraft or trade through an apprenticeship, worked for daily wages. In the 16th century, journeyman picked up a figurative (and mainly deprecatory) sense; namely, "one who drudges for another." These days, however, journeyman has little to do with drudgery, and lots to do with knowing a trade inside out.
Examples of journeyman in a Sentence
Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 7 Apr. 2026
The popular longtime minor-league journeyman plied his trade for the Saints last season.
—Twin Cities, 4 Apr. 2026
That led Smith to throw to a collection of rookies, journeymen and backups.
—Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 3 Apr. 2026
Geno Smith, who eventually became the starting QB in Seattle, also fit the mold of journeyman passer.
—Mike Kaye
april 1, Charlotte Observer, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for journeyman
Cite this Entry
“Journeyman.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/journeyman. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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journeyman
noun
