handyman

American  

[han-dee-man] / ˈhæn diˌmæn /

noun

handymen plural

1. a person hired to do various small jobs, especially in the maintenance of an apartment building, office building, or the like.

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handyman British  

/ ˈhændɪˌmæn /

noun

1. a man employed to do various tasks

2. a man skilled in odd jobs, etc

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Gender

See -man.

Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• handymen
  plural

Etymology

Origin of handyman

First recorded in 1870–75; handy + man

Explanation

Someone who's good at many things, especially fixing things around the house, can be called a handyman. If you need help unclogging a drain and repairing a hole in a window screen, you should call a handyman. A handyman knows how to do minor repairs and odd jobs, and either tackles these on weekends in his own home or advertises his skills and is employed by other people. These days, it's not uncommon to use the word handyperson instead, since it includes both men and women who are handy at fixing and building things. In any case, a handyman or handyperson doesn't specialize in one skill, but dabbles in many.

Example Sentences

Juan, a handyman and cook, dove into the lake to rescue his 14-year-old autistic son, Kevin.

From Los Angeles Times • May 8, 2026

Although I’m a writer with no talent for handyman projects, Bill always assured me and his other customers that we were up to the task.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 12, 2026

This rackety project, involving an elaborate set of tools and a more experienced handyman, became one of the principal stage activities.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 21, 2025

Within weeks the former car mechanic and handyman - a Texan "Mr Fix It" type who wore a cowboy hat and jeans nearly every day - was in end-of-life hospice care.

From BBC • Aug. 30, 2025

He was a kind of fill-in speaker, a holy handyman.

From "Go Tell It on the Mountain" by James Baldwin

Related Words

• helper