journeyman

noun

jour·​ney·​man ˈjər-nē-mən How to pronounce journeyman (audio)
1
: a worker who has learned a trade and works for another person usually by the day compare apprentice entry 1 sense 1b, master entry 1 sense 1c
2
: an experienced reliable worker, athlete, or performer especially as distinguished from one who is brilliant or colorful
a good journeyman trumpeterNew Yorker
a journeyman outfielder

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

Recent Examples on the Web
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That had coach Erik Spoelstra backing off at the finish, seemingly more comfortable with journeyman Haywood Highsmith in the power rotation. Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 14 May 2025 The 31-year-old journeyman is on his sixth team in his ninth-year career, but he's been a cog in the Clippers' rotation through two playoff games, with 31 minutes in Game 1 and 29 more in Game 2. Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Apr. 2025 Her famous grandfather, Walter Huston, was a Broadway theater performer turned Hollywood actor in the 1930s and ’40s, while her father, John Huston, was perhaps the most important and imposing journeyman filmmaker of Hollywood’s Golden Age. Erik Morse, Vogue, 15 Apr. 2025 The team let Eddy Piñeiro test free-agency this summer and signed journeyman Matthew Wright as a result. Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 27 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for journeyman

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from journey journey, a day's labor + man

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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

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Cite this Entry

“Journeyman.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/journeyman. Accessed 29 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

journeyman

noun
jour·​ney·​man ˈjər-nē-mən How to pronounce journeyman (audio)
1
: a worker who has learned a trade and works for another person usually by the day
2
: an experienced reliable worker
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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