day job

noun

: one's regular employment as contrasted with an occasional, secondary, or coveted job

Examples of day job in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In Las Vegas, their day jobs are, well, also in entertainment. Mikayla Whitmore, New York Times, 21 Jan. 2025 The work paid off; Rudd started collecting enough views and brand deals to quit his day job last June. Bailey Schulz, USA TODAY, 17 Jan. 2025 Those who engage in the rotations return to their day jobs with a new vigor and set of insights that strengthen their more traditional work, according to Devgun. Peter High, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025 But when their day job is over, MMA’s up-and-comers go right back to work in the gym. Jack Crosbie, Rolling Stone, 14 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for day job 

Word History

First Known Use

1971, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of day job was in 1971

Dictionary Entries Near day job

Cite this Entry

“Day job.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/day%20job. Accessed 28 Jan. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!