journeyman

American  

[jur-nee-muhn] / ˈdʒɜr ni mən /

noun

• journeymen
  plural

1. a person who has served an apprenticeship at a trade or handicraft and is certified to work at it assisting or under another person.

2. any experienced, competent but routine worker or performer.

3. a person hired to do work for another, usually for a day at a time.

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journeyman British  

/ ˈdʒɜːnɪmən /

noun

1. a craftsman, artisan, etc, who is qualified to work at his trade in the employment of another

2. a competent workman

3. (formerly) a worker hired on a daily wage

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journeyman Cultural  

1. A skilled artisan who works on hire for master artisans rather than for himself.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• journeymen
  plural

Etymology

Origin of journeyman

1425–75; late Middle English journeman, equivalent to journee a day's work ( see journey) + man man

Explanation

A journeyman is someone who's advanced beyond being an apprentice, but who works for someone else. A journeyman who works for a stone mason is fairly experienced at masonry. If you're a journeyman, you're a person who is skilled at a trade or a craft, possibly one who began as an apprentice to an experienced artisan or worker. As a journeyman, a glassblower or stone carver or carpenter has enough skill to do the job well, but hasn't gone into business for herself yet. Journeyman comes from the Vulgar Latin root of journey, diurnum, "day," and man, "person."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

journeyman journeymen

Mr. Futterman’s focus on superstars will leave some readers wishing he’d chronicled the occasional journeyman trying to scrape out wins and paychecks.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026

He joins others who were in danger of acquiring the journeyman tag before their 23rd birthday.

From BBC ● Jul. 25, 2026

Paul Avery, a journeyman actor best known for his role on “All My Children,” and his wife, Sheila, have died following a house fire.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 23, 2026

Lauer reflected on his experience as a first-round pick turned journeyman who went to South Korea to revive his career.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 22, 2026

While on the march she met Cyril Pustan, an Englishman who was a high school teacher and journeyman plumber.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady

Tortorella is one of the best-traveled journeymen in North American hockey.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 5, 2026

“They framed the whole house, and the garage, in three days. Thirty journeymen framers. Because of her,” said Koerner, his voice breaking as he recalled the house-raising that began in mid-July.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 4, 2025

During his tenure, Carcel is credited with making canny loans and transfers for youngsters, journeymen and cast-offs.

From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2024

Look at their wide receivers, youngsters and journeymen who dropped more passes than any team in the league this season.

From Seattle Times ● Feb. 12, 2024

“Let it be written that henceforth only guild members shall be permitted to name themselves journeymen or masters ... provided the guilds open their rolls to any freedman who can demonstrate the requisite skills.”

From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin