jockey

American  

[jok-ee] / ˈdʒɒk i /

noun

plural

jockeys

1. a person who rides horses professionally in races.

2. Informal. a person who pilots, operates, or guides the movement of something, as an airplane or automobile.

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verb (used with object)

jockeyed, jockeying

1. to ride (a horse) as a jockey.

2. Informal. to operate or guide the movement of; pilot; drive.

3. to move, bring, put, etc., by skillful maneuvering.

   The movers jockeyed the sofa through the door.

4. to trick or cheat.

   The salesman jockeyed them into buying an expensive car.

5. to manipulate cleverly or trickily.

   He jockeyed himself into office.

verb (used without object)

jockeyed, jockeying

1. to aim at an advantage by skillful maneuvering.

2. to act trickily; seek an advantage by trickery.

jockey British  

/ ˈdʒɒkɪ /

noun

1. a person who rides horses in races, esp as a profession or for hire

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verb

1. 1. (tr) to ride (a horse) in a race

   2. (intr) to ride as a jockey

2. to try to obtain an advantage by manoeuvring, esp literally in a race or metaphorically, as in a struggle for power (esp in the phrase jockey for position )

3. to trick or cheat (a person)

Other Word Forms

• jockeyish adjective
• jockeylike adjective
• jockeyship noun

Etymology

Origin of jockey

First recorded in 1520–30 for an earlier sense; special use of Jock + -ey ²

Explanation

During a horse race, the riders are called jockeys. Being a jockey is an excellent career choice for someone small. Jockeys, usually male, are always small people, weighing less than 120 pounds and generally standing no more than five feet five inches tall. This keeps the horses' total weight light, allowing them to run faster. When jockey is used as a verb, it means "to struggle or compete," like when politicians jockey for dominance or kids jockey to be the first in line for a bouncy house. Jockey was originally a Scottish word for "boy."

Example Sentences

He's opted for I Am Maximum and would have had the pick as Mullins' stable jockey.

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

Andrew Thornton, a Gold Cup-winning jockey, told BBC Radio 5 Live the death was a "real dampener".

From BBC • Mar. 13, 2026

Plus, it creates new headaches for companies, many of which would likely jockey for workarounds as the administration has shown a willingness to barter tariffs for other commitments, he adds.

From Barron's • Feb. 11, 2026

During the day, she exercised the horses and learned how to be a jockey.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 16, 2026

The racehorse, by virtue of his awesome physical gifts, freed the jockey from himself.

From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand