journeyman

noun

jour·ney·man ˈjər-nē-mən

: 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

: 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

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Wilder has reportedly signed to fight journeyman heavyweight Curtis Harper in an attempt to rebound from back-to-back losses to Joseph Parker and Zhilei Zhang. —

Brian Mazique, Forbes, 17 Jan. 2025 The Atlanta Braves are reportedly signing journeyman Garrett Cooper, a former All-Star whose career has been sidetracked by injuries. —

Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 12 Jan. 2025 The 43-year-old journeyman carpenter has lived in the park at the corner of Fairview Avenue and 3rd Street for two years while saving up to buy his own land. —

Rose Evans, Idaho Statesman, 12 Jan. 2025 Despite journeyman Brycen Goodine’s career-high nine 3s, the Sooners went almost seven second-half minutes without a basket, allowing the Aggies to creep back in. —

Brendan Marks, The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for journeyman