journeyman

noun

jour·​ney·​man ˈjər-nē-mən 

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 trumpeter …

—New 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

The former second overall pick out of Duke has become the quintessential journeyman. —Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 22 Apr. 2026

Down big, journeyman, 32-year-old reliever JT Brubaker inexplicably picked a fight with home plate umpire Quinn Wolcott. —Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2026

Bucchino, a former Wisconsin-River Falls player, brought in coach Terry Watt, who had likewise been a journeyman minor-league pro. —Tris Wykes, Twin Cities, 10 Apr. 2026

The club didn’t re-sign the journeyman in the offseason, leading him to sign a one-year, $900,000 deal with the Guardians, his fourth club. —Idaho Statesman, 9 Apr. 2026

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

Rhymes for journeyman

• businessman
• canavan
• caravan
• constantan
• dragoman
• fisherman
• handyman
• harmattan
• marianne
• middleman
• minivan
• minuteman

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Kids Definition

journeyman

noun

jour·​ney·​man ˈjər-nē-mən 

1

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

2

: an experienced reliable worker