workmanlike

or work·man·ly

[ wurk-muhn-lahyk ]

adjective

1. like or befitting a workman.
2. skillful; well executed:

   a workmanlike piece of writing.

workmanlike

/ ˈwɜːkmənlɪ; ˈwɜːkmənˌlaɪk /

adjective

1. appropriate to or befitting a good workman

Other Words From

• un·workman·like adjective
• un·workman·ly adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of workmanlike¹

First recorded in 1400–50, workmanlike is from the late Middle English word werkmanlike. See workman, -like

Example Sentences

In Week 18, the running back — who’d battled multiple leg injuries and the impulse to try to make every play a big one — capped a gritty, workmanlike year with 146 yards and a touchdown, pushing his season totals to 258 carries for 1,037 yards.

From Washington Post

These are characters we’ve seen before, given no additional depth by workmanlike scripts.

From Time

It’s a bit like “Ghost of Tsushima,” workmanlike in its premise, but expertly executed.

From Washington Post

Remember the first Walkman, introduced in 1979, with its tubby buttons and workmanlike profile.

From The Daily Beast

Romney, by contrast, gave a smooth but workmanlike speech that barely contained a personal touch.

From The Daily Beast

Its components were simple, inelegant, and, by Western standards, of seemingly workmanlike craftsmanship.

From The Daily Beast

The buildings are upon a very large scale; but too much was attempted for them to execute any thing in a workmanlike manner.

From Project Gutenberg

The ready-made rolls, moreover, were put together in a most workmanlike manner.

From Project Gutenberg

She was turned out in what one might have called workmanlike fashion, although neat and wholly feminine.

From Project Gutenberg

Still we raced on, neck and neck, she riding with hands low and weight slightly forward, workmanlike as a jockey.

From Project Gutenberg

Whichever of the two produces the better results will have the more workmanlike look and be in the better form.

From Project Gutenberg