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
Chandler Rome, The Athletic, 20 Feb. 2025
Jeff Cyr has been a journeyman lineman at United Illuminating since 2003.
—Jeff Cyr, Hartford Courant, 19 Feb. 2025
Valbuena, and journeymen Mark Grudzielanek, Jayson Nix and Jason Donald shared the spot in 2010.
—Chuck Murr, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2025
The lowest scorer among them was journeyman Denny McCarthy, who assumed the first-round lead with an eagle on the 574-yard, par-5 18th hole.
—Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Feb. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Journeyman.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/journeyman. Accessed 1 Mar. 2025.
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journeyman
noun
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