journeyman
noun
New Yorker
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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
Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 11 Apr. 2024
Nix appears to have significantly more upside than journeyman placeholder Jarrett Stidham, not to mention the accuracy – nearly 75% in two seasons with the Ducks – Broncos coach Sean Payton values, plus having a nose for the goal line (38 rushing TDs in five college seasons).
—Nate Davis, USA TODAY, 29 Jan. 2024
Toho journeyman Motoyoshi Oda stepped up in his place, and the result is a typical sci-fi sequel, the kind that tries to outdo its predecessor in terms of spectacle — here, Godzilla moves down the coast to trample Osaka — but doesn’t come close to matching it in impact.
—Katie Rife, EW.com, 28 Mar. 2024
In the early 1990s, Jim White was a drumming journeyman, having pounded out rhythms in a string of loud and rabid bands with snotty names, like Feral Dinosaurs or Venom P. Stinger.
—Grayson Haver Currin, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2024
Kitna, the son of former journeyman quarterback Jon Kitna, was dismissed by Florida after an arrest on felony charges, that were later dropped.
—Hunter Bailey, Charlotte Observer, 29 Feb. 2024
The task of managing Sporting — with its squad of young promise and gnarled journeymen — is a world away from taking charge of the superstars at Barcelona or Manchester United.
—Rory Smith, New York Times, 15 Mar. 2024
Both are political journeymen who have patiently climbed the political ladder rung-by-rung.
—Dan Walters, The Mercury News, 6 Mar. 2024
Before his life-altering injury, Castro worked as a journeyman pipefitter based in San Jose.
—Maya Miller, Sacramento Bee, 22 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'journeyman.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Journeyman.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/journeyman. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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journeyman
noun
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