journeyman

noun jour·ney·man \ ˈjər-nē-mən \

Updated on: 13 May 2018

Definition of journeyman

1 : a worker who has learned a trade and works for another person usually by the day

2 : an experienced reliable worker, athlete, or performer especially as distinguished from one who is brilliant or colorful

a good journeyman trumpeter
—New Yorker

a journeyman outfielder

See journeyman defined for English-language learners

See journeyman defined for kids

journeyman was our Word of the Day on 08/23/2016. Hear the podcast!

Recent Examples of journeyman from the Web

In 2001, Maddox signed with the Steelers as journeyman backup to Kordell Stewart.

— robert klemko, SI.com, "You’d Think Ben Roethlisberger Might Have Learned Something From the QB Whose Job He Took," 7 May 2018
Starting with a small group of brewers in the 1990s, those breweries created a brewing pipeline, allowing journeyman brewers to learn the craft and later start their own operations.

— daniel wheaton, sandiegouniontribune.com, "See the boom of San Diego craft beer," 6 May 2018
Both have remained active in Hollywood since their Karate Kid days, Macchio mainly as a journeyman actor and Zabka as an actor and a director.

— drew fortune, HWD, "Wax On: Ralph Macchio and William Zabka Return to the World of Karate Kid," 2 May 2018
What Lauvergne wants in San Antonio, more than anything, though, is a chance to provide himself something his journeyman father never could.

— jeff mcdonald, San Antonio Express-News, "Spurs’ Lauvergne a real-life globetrotter," 8 Jan. 2018
The journeyman backup quarterback announced his retirement on Friday in a Tweet from his agent, Mike McCartney.

— josh katzenstein, NOLA.com, "Luke McCown, former Saints backup quarterback, announces retirement," 20 Apr. 2018
There is no duplicating Jalen Brunson, the NBA journeyman’s son with the old-man game, the national player of the year trophy and the eternally straight face.

— mike finger, San Antonio Express-News, "Villanova’s championship formula won’t soon be matched," 2 Apr. 2018
In the final years of his career, Eusebio became something of a journeyman, playing all over the United States, as well as in Canada, Mexico and briefly back in Portugal.

— SI.com, "World Cup Countdown: 13 Weeks to Go - The 'Black Panther' Eusebio's Golden 1966 Tournament," 23 Mar. 2018
My first journeyman was salty as sh-t, Mortenson scoffed.

— francisco cantú, Time, "I Was a Border Patrol Agent — Until the Horror Made Me Quit," 6 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'journeyman.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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.

Origin and Etymology of journeyman

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

JOURNEYMAN Defined for English Language Learners

journeyman

noun

Definition of journeyman for English Language Learners

: a worker who learns a skill and then works for another person
: a worker, performer, or athlete who is experienced and good but not excellent

JOURNEYMAN Defined for Kids

journeyman

noun jour·ney·man \ ˈjər-nē-mən \

Definition of journeyman for Students

plural journeymen \-mən\

: a worker who has learned a trade and usually works for another person by the day

Learn More about journeyman

Spanish Central: Translation of journeyman Nglish: Translation of journeyman for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about journeyman

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journeyman

Definition of journeyman

journeyman was our Word of the Day on 08/23/2016. Hear the podcast!

Recent Examples of journeyman from the Web

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Origin and Etymology of journeyman

JOURNEYMAN Defined for English Language Learners

journeyman

Definition of journeyman for English Language Learners

JOURNEYMAN Defined for Kids

journeyman

Definition of journeyman for Students

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Recent Examples of journeyman from the Web

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Origin and Etymology of journeyman

JOURNEYMAN Defined for English Language Learners

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Definition of journeyman for English Language Learners

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