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

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That forced the 49ers to play journeyman quarterback Nick Mullens, as well as several backups on offense. —

Rob Reischel, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024 Jassi’s story is clear: WAG for an NFL journeyman in the midst of family planning and a career transition from being a flight attendant to a full-time reality star and kept woman. —

Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 18 Nov. 2024 The journeyman carpenter loves her work, the daily routine. —

Riley Robinson, The Christian Science Monitor, 15 Nov. 2024 Bosa didn’t generate his usual pass rush early against Tristin Wirfs and then also against journeyman Justin Skule when Wirfs left with a knee sprain. —

Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 11 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for journeyman