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
Matt Audilet, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Oct. 2025
Some will never be signed as players have passed away or refuse to sign, including Rickey Wright, a journeyman pitcher with the Texas Rangers.
—Mark Billingsley, Sacbee.com, 13 Oct. 2025
Leo Rivas, a journeyman minor leaguer who only made his MLB debut last year, stepped up for the first postseason at-bat of his career on his 28th birthday.
—Jamie Barton, CNN Money, 11 Oct. 2025
Etienne will back up Dowdle, along with journeyman DeeJay Dallas, on Sunday against Dallas.
—Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 11 Oct. 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 18 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
journeyman
noun
Share