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
Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 16 Apr. 2025
Morgan also mentioned second-year wideout Jalen Coker and journeyman wideout David Moore as important pieces in the room.
—Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 15 Apr. 2025
Dewhurst was, at that point, a venerable stage star with six Tony nominations and two wins, and Reiley was a young journeyman actor who was often hired for the chorus or as an understudy.
—Mark Harris, Vulture, 9 Apr. 2025
One of the brightest stars in all of that has been Malik Beasley – a veteran journeyman who the Pistons added on a one-year deal (one of the best contracts of free agency) this past offseason.
—Mat Issa, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for journeyman
Cite this Entry
“Journeyman.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/journeyman. Accessed 4 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
journeyman
noun
Share