jockey

1 of 2

noun

jock·​ey ˈjä-kē 

plural jockeys

1

: a person who rides or drives a horse especially as a professional in a race

2

: a person who operates or works with a specified vehicle, device, object, or material

a bus jockey

pencil jockeys

jockey

2 of 2

verb

jockeyed; jockeying

transitive verb

1

a

: to maneuver or manipulate by adroit or devious means

was jockeyed out of the job

b

: to change the position of by a series of movements

jockey a truck into position

2

a

: to ride or drive (a horse) as a jockey

b

: drive, operate

3

: to deal shrewdly or fraudulently with

intransitive verb

1

: to maneuver for advantage

—often used in the phrase jockey for position

2

: to act as a jockey

Examples of jockey in a Sentence

Verb

There was a lot of political jockeying at the fund-raiser.

The driver carefully jockeyed the truck into a narrow space in the crowded parking lot.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The event is considered to be the Olympics of horse racing, bringing the sport's best horses, jockeys and trainers together for four days each March at the Cheltenham Racecourse in Gloucestershire. —Janine Henni, People.com, 14 Mar. 2025

Pittsburgh plays Fordham and New York University competes against Georgetown. 1957 — Johnny Longden becomes the first jockey in history to reach 5,000 victories. —Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 28 Feb. 2025

Verb

Teams are jockeying to improve their seeding ahead of Selection Sunday on March 16. —Daniel Wine, CNN, 9 Mar. 2025

Duplication of endeavor and conflicts of authority have given rise to the more deadly diseases of bureaucracy—intrigue, inner politics, jockeying for place. —Marquis William Childs, Harper's Magazine, 19 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Jockey, Scots nickname for John

First Known Use

Noun

1643, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1708, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 3

Phrases Containing jockey

• bench jockey
• desk jockey
• disc jockey
• disk jockey
• jockey club
• jockey for position

Rhymes for jockey

• blocky
• chalky
• cocky
• gawky
• hockey
• khaki
• machi
• maki
• rocky
• stocky
• talkie
• walkie

Kids Definition

jockey

1 of 2 noun

jock·​ey ˈjäk-ē 

plural jockeys

1

: one who rides a horse especially as a professional in a race

2

: one who operates something

a gas-pump jockey

jockey

2 of 2 verb

jockeyed; jockeying

1

: to ride a horse as a jockey

2

: to move or manage skillfully or cleverly or so as to gain advantage

jockey a truck into position

jockeying for position